Brent Hackney, 1948-2005
Brent Hackney, who worked here as a reporter back in the 1970s, passed away today at his home in Southern Pines. The full obit from the Southern Pines Pilot is here.
Brent was gone by the time I got here, serving as press secretary for Gov. Jim Hunt, which is where I first met him. Jim Schlosser, who was here then, says that Brent was a fine writer and an excellent press secretary because, having been a reporter, he understood what reporters needed.
I asked Jim if he had any good stories about Brent. He smiled and said, "None that we could print." That's as fine an epitaph for a reporter as I can think of.