Martin Waldron
Encyclopedia
Martin Oliver "Mo" Waldron (February 2, 1925 – May 27, 1981) was an American
newspaper reporter, whose investigative reporting on "reckless, unchecked spending" on the construction of the Sunshine State Parkway
won the 1964 Pulitzer Prize
for Meritorious Public Service for the St. Petersburg Times
"for its aggressive investigation of the Florida Turnpike Authority which disclosed widespread illegal acts and resulted in a major reorganization of the State's road construction program." At the time of his death, Waldron was the Trenton, New Jersey
bureau chief for The New York Times
.
Waldron was born on February 2, 1925 in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
. He attended Middle Georgia College
, Georgia Institute of Technology
and Atlanta Law School, and was awarded his undergraduate degree from Birmingham–Southern College. He worked as a reporter at The Atlanta Constitution
, The Birmingham Age-Herald, the Birmingham Post-Herald
and The Tampa Tribune
, gradually shifting to a focus on investigative reporting.
He was with the St. Petersburg Times
in 1963, when he wrote a total of 150,000 words as part of the newspaper's coverage of unchecked spending by the Florida Turnpike Authority that led to estimated costs quadrupling from initial estimates of $100 million. Waldron received a tip about excessive spending by John Hammer, chairman of the Florida Turnpike Authority, which included expensive hotels and meals, corsages for his secretary and overcharging for a chartered plane. As part of his efforts to see how much it would take to spend $30 on a meal in 1963, at a time when two could dine opulently for $15, Waldron and a colleague went to an expensive Miami restaurant, where they ended up eating a caesar salad, sirloin steak, dessert and two brandies, and hit their $30 target by paying for the glass the brandy came in and adding a $5 tip. His coverage earned the newspaper the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
in 1964, the first for the newspaper, and led to changes in the way the state of Florida
managed highway construction projects.
He moved to The New York Times
in 1966, becoming the paper's Trenton bureau chief. His final reporting for the paper was about casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey
and their relationships with local municipal government, a series that was nominated for a Pulitzer. Arthur Gelb
, then deputy managing editor for The Times, recalled that "if Mo Waldron was in town there would be a party somewhere and everybody from the mayor down would be there".
Waldron died at age 56 on May 27, 1981, at his home in Hightstown, New Jersey
due to heart disease
. He was survived by his wife, author Ann Waldron
, as well as a daughter and three sons.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper reporter, whose investigative reporting on "reckless, unchecked spending" on the construction of the Sunshine State Parkway
Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike , designated as the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, and originally known as the Sunshine State Parkway is a north–south toll road that runs through 11 counties in the Florida peninsula, from U.S...
won the 1964 Pulitzer Prize
1964 Pulitzer Prize
-Journalism awards:*Public Service:**The St. Petersburg Times, for its aggressive investigation of the Florida Turnpike Authority which disclosed widespread illegal acts and resulted in a major reorganization of the State's road construction program....
for Meritorious Public Service for the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
"for its aggressive investigation of the Florida Turnpike Authority which disclosed widespread illegal acts and resulted in a major reorganization of the State's road construction program." At the time of his death, Waldron was the Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
bureau chief for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.
Waldron was born on February 2, 1925 in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish[p] is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lake Charles. As of 2010, the parish population was 192,768...
. He attended Middle Georgia College
Middle Georgia College
Middle Georgia College is a publicly supported, residential,charter unit of the University System of Georgia, in the city Cochran in the U.S. state of Georgia. Founded in 1884, the school is the oldest two-year college in the United States. It is currently being transformed into a 4 year college...
, Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
and Atlanta Law School, and was awarded his undergraduate degree from Birmingham–Southern College. He worked as a reporter at The Atlanta Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the only major daily newspaper in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and its suburbs. The AJC, as it is called, is the flagship publication of Cox Enterprises. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the result of the merger between The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta...
, The Birmingham Age-Herald, the Birmingham Post-Herald
Birmingham Post-Herald
The Birmingham Post-Herald was a daily newspaper in Birmingham, Alabama with roots dating back to 1850, before the founding of Birmingham. The final edition was published on September 23, 2005...
and The Tampa Tribune
The Tampa Tribune
The Tampa Tribune, published in Tampa, Florida, is one of two major newspapers published in the Tampa Bay area, second in circulation and readership to the St. Petersburg Times. The paper's tagline is "Life...
, gradually shifting to a focus on investigative reporting.
He was with the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
in 1963, when he wrote a total of 150,000 words as part of the newspaper's coverage of unchecked spending by the Florida Turnpike Authority that led to estimated costs quadrupling from initial estimates of $100 million. Waldron received a tip about excessive spending by John Hammer, chairman of the Florida Turnpike Authority, which included expensive hotels and meals, corsages for his secretary and overcharging for a chartered plane. As part of his efforts to see how much it would take to spend $30 on a meal in 1963, at a time when two could dine opulently for $15, Waldron and a colleague went to an expensive Miami restaurant, where they ended up eating a caesar salad, sirloin steak, dessert and two brandies, and hit their $30 target by paying for the glass the brandy came in and adding a $5 tip. His coverage earned the newspaper the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
The Pulitzer Prize for Public Service has been awarded since 1918 for a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper or news site through the use of its journalistic resources. Those resources, as well as reporting, may include editorials, cartoons, photographs, graphics,...
in 1964, the first for the newspaper, and led to changes in the way the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
managed highway construction projects.
He moved to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
in 1966, becoming the paper's Trenton bureau chief. His final reporting for the paper was about casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
and their relationships with local municipal government, a series that was nominated for a Pulitzer. Arthur Gelb
Arthur Gelb
Arthur Gelb was the managing editor of the New York Times.He began working the night shift as a copy boy. He ascended through the ranks holding several titles in many different departments. His biggest impacts were while working in the drama department. He enjoyed Eugene O'Neill's plays so much...
, then deputy managing editor for The Times, recalled that "if Mo Waldron was in town there would be a party somewhere and everybody from the mayor down would be there".
Waldron died at age 56 on May 27, 1981, at his home in Hightstown, New Jersey
Hightstown, New Jersey
Hightstown is a Borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,494.Hightstown was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1853, within portions of East Windsor Township. The borough became...
due to heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
. He was survived by his wife, author Ann Waldron
Ann Waldron
Ann Wood Waldron was an American author who initially focused on writing for children and young adults, then turned to biographies of authors from the South, and ultimately shifted in her late 70s to writing murder mysteries set at Princeton University.-Early life:Ann Wood was born on December 14,...
, as well as a daughter and three sons.