George D. Beveridge
Encyclopedia
George D. Beveridge was an American
Pulitzer Prize
-winning journalist praised for his coverage of the Washington, DC politics, government, and regional development, and described by the Washington Post as
. Although he lived briefly in Arlington, VA and raised his family in Bethesda, MD, he regarded himself a lifelong resident of the District, where he graduated from Eastern High School.
". He enlisted in the US Army in 1942, where he wrote press releases before returning to the Star for what became a 41-year career there as reporter, editor, editorial writer, and ombudsman. He won the Star's first Pulitzer Prize
for writing in 1958.
in Washington, D.C.
. He worked his way up the ladder from general assignment reporter to local and then national news reporter.
In 1958 Beveridge wrote a series of articles about urban growth and development in Washington and its Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs, delineating the concept of those municipalities acting together as a region. The series, titled "Metro, City of Tomorrow" earned him a Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Local Reporting. The Pulitzer jury cited the series as "excellent and thought-provoking...describing in depth the urban problems of Washington, D.C., which stimulated widespread public consideration of these problems and encouraged further studies by both public and private agencies.
In 1963, he began an 11-year stint as the Star's chief editorial writer on local affairs. After returning to the newsroom as assistant managing editor for local news, he became the Star's first ombudsman. When the Star folded in 1981, Beveridge coauthored the lead story for the last edition of the newspaper.
at his home in Bethesda, Maryland
on February 14, 1987, aged 65.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning journalist praised for his coverage of the Washington, DC politics, government, and regional development, and described by the Washington Post as
an expert on this city and a keen observer and critic of journalistic ethics and practices.
Youth
Born in Washington, DC, Beveridge's father worked as a machinist for the federal government during the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Although he lived briefly in Arlington, VA and raised his family in Bethesda, MD, he regarded himself a lifelong resident of the District, where he graduated from Eastern High School.
Early career
After graduating from high school Beveridge began his journalism career as a copyboy at the "Evening StarWashington Star
The Washington Star, previously known as the Washington Star-News and the Washington Evening Star, was a daily afternoon newspaper published in Washington, D.C. between 1852 and 1981. For most of that time, it was the city's newspaper of record, and the longtime home to columnist Mary McGrory and...
". He enlisted in the US Army in 1942, where he wrote press releases before returning to the Star for what became a 41-year career there as reporter, editor, editorial writer, and ombudsman. He won the Star's first Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for writing in 1958.
Evening Star, Washington Star
Beveridge joined the Evening Star in 1940 as a copyboy while attending George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He worked his way up the ladder from general assignment reporter to local and then national news reporter.
In 1958 Beveridge wrote a series of articles about urban growth and development in Washington and its Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs, delineating the concept of those municipalities acting together as a region. The series, titled "Metro, City of Tomorrow" earned him a Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Local Reporting. The Pulitzer jury cited the series as "excellent and thought-provoking...describing in depth the urban problems of Washington, D.C., which stimulated widespread public consideration of these problems and encouraged further studies by both public and private agencies.
In 1963, he began an 11-year stint as the Star's chief editorial writer on local affairs. After returning to the newsroom as assistant managing editor for local news, he became the Star's first ombudsman. When the Star folded in 1981, Beveridge coauthored the lead story for the last edition of the newspaper.
Death
George Beveridge died of leukemiaLeukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
at his home in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
on February 14, 1987, aged 65.