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Always a newspaperman
Political figures of all stripes and many government and business leaders were on hand for the services at Cloverdale Baptist Church in Montgomery. Bob died last Thursday after a two-year battle with myelodysplasia, one of the complications of the type of treatment he underwent for bladder cancer starting in 1994. Although in his lifetime, Bob, 81, moved easily from newspaper journalism to his own magazine, to television and finally to fulltime political pundit, he remained a "print guy" until the end. The column he has written for the past half-century is a treasure trove of political tidbits, history and news, particularly for Alabamians who didn't have easy access to one of the state's major daily newspapers. I first remember communicating with Bob in 1969 when I was editor of the daily paper in Florence and he was state finance director for Gov. Albert Brewer. We did an interview with him and I thought I had perhaps saved a letter he sent after the story appeared. I did retrieve it in some very old file boxes this past weekend. He wrote: "I deeply appreciate your most generous article. Being a former newspaperman myself, I was amazed at how well you all sized up the situation after such a brief interview. After reading what you wrote about me, I take back all I have said about them lying daily newspapers." It was classic Ingram…straightforward and a bit caustic. Bob started out at The Montgomery Advertiser as a reporter, then from 1979 until 1993 was editorial director at WSFA-TV, where he always ended his editorials with "And that's the way I see it…" He returned to The Advertiser in 1993 where he wrote a regular political column until 1999. He left the Montgomery daily when told that anytime he mentioned the name of Lt. Gov. Steve Windom he would have to issue a disclaimer at the end of his column because his son, Ragan, worked for Windom. As much as he loved The Advertiser, when they did that to him he figuratively gave them the finger, although he certainly wouldn't describe it in that manner. That's when I called to inquire if he would write his column for The Independent. I said up front there would be no disclaimers. So his first question was: How much am I worth?" Not wanting to pay more than I had to, I said: "You tell me." He did and, although it was five times more than I knew he was charging other papers, I agreed. But Bob had a softer side and I will never forget the loving and inspirational column he wrote following the death of his wife, Edith, in 1997. After Bob became ill several months ago I told him I would write a column and send it to his newspaper clients until he was able to write again. I told the papers I did not want any payment but to continue paying Bob if they felt it in their hearts to do so. In September I received my final communication from Bob via email, reproduced below in edited form: "Bob…my mother was widowed in 1932…the heart of the Depression…with three kids to raise…my sisters 9 and 7. I was 5… no social security or any kind of welfare…no nothing. We couldn't have made it without the support of so many friends. "From that experience she drilled into our heads to "always say thank you." "Thank you so much for what you have done…you are obviously continuing to send columns to my old mailing list. If you say the word I will be more than willing to forward you the money I have received…about $400 during the past few months. "I have been feeling great the past month or so…the blood transfusions seem to be working. I go out to Baptist East every10 days or so for two pints of blood. It is a drag…takes most of the day…but I pray that this treatment continues to work. "Have had a couple of great visits with Albert Brewer. He has come out of retirement and is back in the Law School classroom at Cumberland…He and Mac Lee (the Secretary of the Senate) came by recently for a dandy conversation. "Again…please forgive me for being so negligent in telling you how thoughtful you have been…you are a true friend." Thank you Bob Ingram for your contributions to our state.
Bob Martin is editor and publisher of The Montgomery Independent. E-mail him at: bob@montgomeryindependent. com
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