Readers
THE FINAL EDITION
Paper gave ‘plain old people’ a voice
I am very sad because I am losing a good friend, the Citizen. I have enjoyed your excellent paper since we came to Tucson in 1951.
Special thanks to my journalism hero Tony Tselentis, editorial page editor, who shared his valuable insights about community issues, printed our letters and sent our questions and concerns to the news side to cover.
Thanks also to the wonderful investigative reporters (Jon Kaman, etc.), who dug out the facts about many critical issues like the fraudulent Butterfield freeway public opinion survey and the GAC plan to convert Empire Ranch to a huge bedroom community.
The Citizen gave us plain old people a voice so we could be effective.
Time has moved on. Thanks to the new crew who continue quality news and editorial coverage – Mark (Kimble), Billie (Stanton) and the other good folk who carry on.
Soon we citizens will lose an important voice. I will miss you greatly.
Ruth Holzinger Stokes
Kudos to former Citizen journalists
The only way I have to express how much I’ll miss the paper is to tell my story. Most of all I’ll miss Billie Stanton. She is irreplaceable.
The summer of 1967 was the happiest time of my life. The Tucson Citizen gave me the chance to continue my newspaper career in a new town, in a new job.
The job was as city desk assistant, working with Tom Duddleston and Keith Carew.
The staff was great – so warm and friendly, like a big family, pre-computer with more time for each other.
I was able to continue my journalism career, which began in Columbus, Ohio, in 1942 as one of five war-time staff photographers on the Columbus Citizen newspaper.
In 1956, I had gone to New York and married Bruce Hopkins, a New York Mirror photographer. The paper folded.
John Hemmer, a former staffer there, offered Bruce a job here. So here we were.
I retired when I was 62.
At the Tucson Citizen, we made longtime personal friends, such as my 30-year-friend Allison Hock-Rose, who started as a teen intern.
She recently was in town, and we discussed old times.
From the old building, these staffers deserve to be remembered – and bosses, too:
William Small Jr., Paul McKalip, George Rosenberg, Clyde Lowery, Tony Tselentis, Mary Brown, Mary Moody, Micheline “Mike” Keating, Nicki Donahue, Ellen Crosby, Anne Ross, Corky Simpson, Bill Hopkins, John Winters, Dan Pavillard, Sue Giles, Mary Gerdan Hunt, Judy Terlizzi, Regis McAuly, Paul Allen and Jeannie Jett.
WILMA S. HOPKINS
Fine work of staff won’t be forgotten
How do you say “thank you” to so many people who have made a difference in your life, professionally and personally?
After being in the military more than 21 years, you would think I would know how to say goodbye to friends and comrades on the newspaper side of the house.
News that the Tucson Citizen will close came as a surprise to me, and soon it will be a reality.
I want to thank all those reporters, photographers, editors and the weekly Calendar magazine for working with me for the past seven years.
Working together to get the news to and about our nation’s heroes, veterans and their families has truly been the fruit of our combined labor.
What a joy it has been to have worked personally with Anne Denogean, Heidi Rowley, Sheryl Kornman, Billie Stanton, Val Cañez, Norman Jean Gargasz, Larry Copenhaver and so many others who made our news a focus of interest and personal reflection.
As the book is slowly closed on this historical newspaper, let us wish all those who shared our cheers and sometimes our tears the best of future hopes and dreams, as they will not be forgotten in my heart.
Let us remember not how the newspaper died, but how it lived! Thanks for the memories, Tucson Citizen!
PEPE MENDOZA
fellow journalist
Gaslight indebted to Chuck Graham
We at The Gaslight Theatre will be forever indebted to Mr. Chuck Graham.
Over the years, Chuck has faithfully reviewed all of our shows. A large part of our growth and success can be credited to the dedication and professionalism of Chuck Graham. He has been fair, honest and always helpful with his reviews.
As a small business, we rely on every type of public relations opportunity available. Losing the Tucson Citizen and Chuck’s reviews will leave a gap that will be hard to fill.
All of us in The Gaslight Family would like to thank you, Chuck, for all of your hard work and support of The Gaslight Theatre over the years. We wish you all the best and lots of continued success as you set out on the next phase of your career.
Tony Terry & The Gaslight Family
owner, The Gaslight Theatre
Bryan Lee was advocate for athletes
It is a shame that the Citizen is closing; good people will lose their jobs, and the community will lose your expertise.
A free press is the cornerstone of a healthy citizenry, and we will miss your varied voices.
Thanks to the entire staff for working so diligently to provide our community with news of the city.
I want to acknowledge one writer in particular: Bryan Lee. Bryan has written countless articles about the health and fitness community over the years, whether in the Sports pages, Outdoors, Body Plus or elsewhere.
He has been an advocate for local competitive athletes and a champion of healthy living.
Thank you, Bryan, for all that you’ve done for Tucson.
Randy Accetta
Southern Arizona Roadrunners
Stay in Tucson, employees; we need you
My family and I will miss the Tucson Citizen. We’ve especially appreciated the thoughtful editorial page in recent years.
Arizona media will be poorer with the Citizen gone.
Hopefully, Citizen journalists and employees will stay in Tucson and be involved in the community in other positive ways.
Daniel Patterson
state representative, LD 29