Saturday, January 25, 2014

BJ's story on Harry's passing

Retired editor helped newspaper win Pulitzer


By Beacon Journal staff report



AKRON: Harry Liggett left his mark in journalism history when as an assistant state editor he helped shape the Akron Beacon Journal’s news coverage of the May 4, 1970, Kent State shootings.

The newspaper’s coverage was awarded a Pulitzer Prize — its second at the time.

Mr. Liggett died Friday at the age of 83 after a long illness.

A 1953 graduate of Ohio State University, Mr. Liggett served in the military as a public information officer at Fort Benning, Ga., from 1953 to 1955.

A year later, he went to work as a city editor with The Evening Chronicle in Uhrichsville, Ohio. He joined the Beacon Journal newsroom in 1965 as a reporter. He advanced to several positions in the newsroom including assistant news editor before retiring in 1995.

Mr. Liggett and his wife, Helen, were married 53 years before she died in 2010.

He leaves behind two sons, Thomas Liggett and Robert Liggett, both of Akron.

Funeral arrangements, which will be handled by Anthony Funeral Homes, 1990 S. Main St., in Akron, will be announced later.

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