Last Updated: May 20, 1999
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An American Editor
Birthday: April 5, 1954
Hometown: Salinas, Calif.
Marital status: Recently married — July 25, 1998 — to Emelyn
Cruz Lat Rodriguez.
Children: none.
Inspiration: My family has also provided my inspiration.
Greatest feat: Becoming executive editor here.
Bad habit: I’m a workaholic who needs to learn to delegate.
Pet peeve: Sloppy mistakes.
Luxury defined: An oceanside massage at sunset in Hawaii. (We
did that on our recent honeymoon.)
Most dangerous story: Early in my career, covering California’s
prison gang violence which spilled out into several communities.
Best story: California’s farm labor movement in the 1970s and
1980s.
Best interview and why: Cesar Chavez several times in the 1970s
and early 1980s. You could see the commitment and feel his sense of mission,
purpose and destiny.
My newspaper’s strength: Doing serious journalism, including
breaking news stories, political coverage and major projects.
Most admired editor: Gregory Favre.
Most admired writer: John Steinbeck, a hometown boy.
Favorite publication: Newspapers in general. I also enjoy the
writing in Sports Illustrated.
Favorite comic: “Dilbert.”
Best part of job: Making a difference in the community or in
a staff member’s professional and personal development.
Worst part of job: Trying to deal with budget cuts.
Vacation spot: The beach – Mexico, Hawaii, Monterey Peninsula,
San Diego.
Books at bedside: “First in His Class: The Biography of Bill
Clinton” by David Maraniss.
