Last Updated: May 20, 1999
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An American editor
Stan Tiner
Birthday: Aug. 22, 1942
Hometown: Cotton Valley, La.
Marital status: Married to Vickie Thibodeaux, Dec. 31, 1967
Children: Mark, 29; Jon, 27; and Heather, 24.
Self-portrait: Strong-minded, but mellowing, belligerent but
caring. Loves being an editor and after all these years, can’t wait to
see the latest edition.
Newsroom motto: Tough but fair.
Inspiration: Howard Simons
Bad habit: Cigars
Pet peeve: Newspapers’ loss of identity. Sameness.
Luxury defined: A blazing fire in the dead of winter, a leather
chair, a good book and the time to read it.
Most dangerous story: Covering a Klan rally where the wizard,
Robert Shelton, castigated me by name for previous stories.
Best story: Column that saved the town library of Blanchard,
La., from the wrecking ball.
Best interview and why: Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards where
he revealed he didn’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It set
Louisiana on its ear for a week or two. Then Edwards, in his inimitable
fashion, made another comeback. He admitted he had told me he had doubts,
but he had failed to finish the complete thought: "My faith overcame those
doubts."
My newspaper’s strength: Good reporters, good editors, backed
by good owners and publishers willing to give us the freedom and resources
to publish a good newspaper.
Most admired editors: Gene Patterson, Ralph McGill
Most admired writers: Frances Coleman, Gene Owens
Favorite publications: The New York Times, The Dallas Morning
News, Morning Paper of Ruston, La.
Favorite comic: "B.C."
Favorite columnists: Maureen Dowd, William Safire
Best part of the job: Knowing what’s going on before just about
anyone.
Worst part of the job: Answering the phone at home to a voice
saying, "I didn’t want to bother you at work about this ..."
Favorite TV Programs: "NYPD Blue", A&E’s "Biography"
Books at bedside: "Paradise" by Toni Morrison; "Madame Bovary"
by Gustave Flaubert; "Dixie City" by James Lee Burke; "History of England"
by G.M. Trevelyn.
Last words: "Yes!"
