Creed Black
Encyclopedia
Creed Carter Black was an American
newspaper executive and publisher of the Lexington Herald-Leader
, where he published a series of articles on corruption in Kentucky's coal industry and the University of Kentucky
's Wildcats men's basketball team
. In addition, Black also worked as an executive for The Nashville Tennessean, Savannah Morning News
, the now defunct Savannah Evening Press, Chicago Daily News
and Philadelphia Inquirer during his career. Black served as the President of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
, the National Conference of Editorial Writers, the American Society of Newspaper Editors
and the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association.
Outside of journalism, Black served as an assistant secretary of health, education and welfare for legislation
during the first eighteen months of President Richard Nixon
's first term in office.
Black was born on July 15, 1925, in Harlan, Kentucky
. His father was struck and killed by lightning
when he was five years old and he moved to Paducah
with his mother. He began his career in professional journalism by working at the Paducah Sun-Democrat
as a part-time journalist when he was seventeen years old. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II
, serving in the infantry in the European Theater. He was awarded the Bronze Star during the war. Black obtained his bachelor's degree
from Northwestern University
and his master's degree
from the University of Chicago
after the war.
Creed Black died of complications from a stroke in Miami, Florida
, on August 16, 2011, at the age of 86.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper executive and publisher of the Lexington Herald-Leader
Lexington Herald-Leader
The Lexington Herald-Leader is a newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company and based in the U.S. city of Lexington, Kentucky. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the Herald-Leaders paid circulation is the second largest in the Commonwealth of Kentucky...
, where he published a series of articles on corruption in Kentucky's coal industry and the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
's Wildcats men's basketball team
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
. In addition, Black also worked as an executive for The Nashville Tennessean, Savannah Morning News
Savannah Morning News
The Savannah Morning News is a daily newspaper in Savannah, Georgia. It is published by Morris Communications, Inc. The motto of the paper is "Light of the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry"...
, the now defunct Savannah Evening Press, Chicago Daily News
Chicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
and Philadelphia Inquirer during his career. Black served as the President of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is an American private, non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts....
, the National Conference of Editorial Writers, the American Society of Newspaper Editors
American Society of Newspaper Editors
The American Society of News Editors is a membership organization for editors, producers or directors in charge of journalistic organizations or departments, deans or faculty at university journalism schools, and leaders and faculty of media-related foundations and training organizations...
and the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association.
Outside of journalism, Black served as an assistant secretary of health, education and welfare for legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
during the first eighteen months of President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
's first term in office.
Black was born on July 15, 1925, in Harlan, Kentucky
Harlan, Kentucky
Harlan is a city in Harlan County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,081 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 1,880 in 2007. It is the county seat of Harlan County.-History:...
. His father was struck and killed by lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
when he was five years old and he moved to Paducah
Paducah
Paducah is the name of multiple places in the United States of America:* Paducah, Kentucky, a city on the Ohio River* Paducah, Texas, a small town named after the city in Kentucky...
with his mother. He began his career in professional journalism by working at the Paducah Sun-Democrat
The Paducah Sun
The Paducah Sun is a daily newspaper in Paducah, Kentucky owned by the family-run Paxton Media Group. The paper was formerly known as the Paducah Sun-Democrat. The publisher is Jim Paxton. Gary Adkisson is the general manager. Duke Conover is the executive editor.The Sun is the most-read newspaper...
as a part-time journalist when he was seventeen years old. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, serving in the infantry in the European Theater. He was awarded the Bronze Star during the war. Black obtained his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
after the war.
Creed Black died of complications from a stroke in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, on August 16, 2011, at the age of 86.