Tom Moore's take on Harry Liggett

BY TOM MOORE, BJ newsroom retiree

     What can I say about my longtime friend and colleague?

     One sentence sums him up: "A dedicated journalist;  better get it right and watch those errors."

Tom Moore, Harry Liggett in 2007

     Harry sat across from me for 20 years at the Beacon Journal. We were assistant news editor together--and did whatever other jobs needed.

    And he was top notch in all that he did.

     For a while he left the Metro side of the news desk on Friday nights to design and makeup page one and the A section.

     But then one night when an Indian pitcher turned in a perfect game, Harry gave it the play it deserved. But the assistant honcho for news at that time was miffed that Harry had not called him about the "big story."

     I don't know what he could have done at that time, but evidently he decided that since he didn't get that call, Harry wouldn't be called on to do the A section again.

    Harry was a mentor to many while on the State Desk and, of course, on the Metro desk.

     He presented a gruff exterior, but was a lamb at heart. When he came in a bit more grumpy than usual, you knew his blood sugar was acting up. But that didn't deter him from doing  a great job.

     When I lost interest in keeping up a website with BJ happenings after having a quad by-pass, Harry immediately established a blog and he kept it up-to-date for many years...our old colleagues, what they were up to now, and what else was happening in the world of journalism.

     Lately, retiree John Olesky has taken up the torch and we hope will continue the great job Harry did.

     Harry and his late wife showed up at most of our monthly retiree luncheons. Her loss was devastating to Harry.

  

   But at the luncheons,  he joined in the reminiscing and old stories. One of the ones he really liked (and it was read at his retirement party) concerns a new  reporter who had to cover a sewer meeting. She didn't particularly like her assignment from the State Desk and left a memo quitting the job.

     Harry, you will be missed. But you can now show St. Peter how to really put out a paper.