By: E&P Staff As realization sank in Tuesday that well-known publisher and diplomat Philip Merrill was likely lost at sea, tributes were offered by professional groups, friends and readers.
Merrill is presumed dead, after rescue operations failed to find him after he turned up missing from his sailboat in the Chesapeake Bay over the weekend. He was the publisher of several newspapers, and the school of journalism at the University of Maryland is named for him.
National Press Club President Jonathan Salant, a reporter for Bloomberg, issued a statement observing that Merrill was "one of our esteemed Silver Owls -- those who have been members for at least 25 years. Mr. Merrill joined the club in 1962, when he was a U.S. State Department employee.
"Six years later, Mr. Merrill returned to journalism, a pursuit he enjoyed during his days at Cornell University, with the purchase of part of The Evening Capital newspaper in Annapolis, Md. Today, his Capital-Gazette Communications owns six newspapers and Washingtonian magazine.
"Mr. Merrill has a well-deserved reputation as a skilled, gifted and highly successful newspaperman and publisher. He has generously given back to his profession by underwriting the University of Maryland's School of Journalism, as well as a number of other causes. Our thoughts and prayers are with Eleanor Merrill and the Merrills' children during this distressing time."
Vice President Dick Cheney issued the following:
"The apparent death of Phil Merrill is a tragic loss for the Nation. I have known Phil for 25 years as a friend, an advisor and a patriot. I had the privilege of working with him when he was the Assistant Secretary General of NATO and I was Secretary of Defense. I recommended him to the President to serve as the Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank.
"My wife Lynne worked at the The Washingtonian magazine under Phil?s leadership for a number of years. Phil and Ellie Merrill have been some of our closest friends during our years in Washington.
"Phil was one of those rare individuals who was good at everything he ever tried, and he made major contributions -- public, business and philanthropic. His dedication to the Nation and his devotion to his family were an inspiration to all of us who were privileged to know him."
Merrill's daily paper in Annapolis, The Capital, set up a tribute board. Here are two comments.
*
Please post my condolences to the Merrill family and to all my friends at the Capital-Gazette Co. Many of my fondest memories and strongest friendships in the newspaper business were formed during my years on The Capital?s copy desk in the 1980s and 1990s. My thoughts are with all of you at this time of loss.
-- Jay Votel, assistant editor for special sections, The Washington Times
As a community correspondent for the West County Gazette, I am sad to say that I never had the opportunity to personally meet Mr. Philip Merrill, yet I proudly say that I live in a community that was the beneficiary of Mr. Merrill?s passion for local news and his insistence that a publication stay connected with the community. The Laurel community has been transformed due in large part to Mr. Merrill?s desire to keep local news on the forefront, and as such has also suffered a great loss of a benefactor.
-- Elizabeth Leight, neighborhood correspondent, Russett/Laurel/Maryland City, West County Gazette
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here