Steal this book!!!
Stan Swofford, a reporter and editor here since 1969, is taking a one-year leave of absence to write a book about Blue Rhino. The leave will begin Aug. 1.
Along with a few others, Stan is the heart and soul of this newsroom, and while I applaud his initiative and courage in taking time off to write a book, we're going to miss him terribly. He's broken dozens of stories for us on a variety of topics. His work has spotlighted people incarcerated unjustly, misuse of tax dollars and scandals in government. For a few years in the 80s, Stan was an editor, but his heart was in reporting and writing.
Most recently, Stan has produced significant journalism for us on Project Homestead and crack cocaine. Those projects are typical of Stan's reporting. He's won numerous N.C. Press Association awards and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1978 for his reporting on the Wilmington 10.
Personally, he has been an wise and independent counselor to me...someone who would tell me the truth when perhaps I didn't want to hear it. We look forward to his return as a published book author, (and I'm sure he'd welcome you buying three of four copies of said book.)
Comments (4)
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Stan Swafford is terrific. He sometimes visits Rosemary Roberts' journalism class at UNCG to talk about feature writing and it's always a highlight. His N&R stuff is always something to look forward to.
Am sad to hear he's taking the year off but glad to hear about the book.
Posted on May 16, 2005 1:17 PM
Steal This Book-- Abby Hoffman, right?
Posted on May 16, 2005 10:57 PM
You're showing your age, Billy.
Posted on May 17, 2005 8:40 AM
I've known Stan since our days in the distant past at a few watering holes around downtown GSO.
Stan not only does in-depth investigative reporting, he writes with a heart and soul not seen in many reporters.
I always read anything with his byline, it's sure to be well done.
Good luck, Stan, but...a book about a propane tank??
Posted on May 17, 2005 3:12 PM