In addition to Mr. Frank Wells and Mr. Keeler McCartney – the third curmudgeon is Mr. Bob Roar – the City Desk editor – who would have caught my error above.

Wells, McCartney, and Roar made sure typos and bad facts rarely – if ever – reached the print version of the paper – and there were several editions ever night. It seems like there were fewer corrections in all newspapers before the computer, internet and fax put the business in overdrive.

Sorry Mr. Roar – ok “Bob” – I can hear your curt correction – and then you’d get over it and move to next item.
When something was in question, Mr. Bob Roar always was correct. And he has the ability to make his curt correction seem like a gift rather than a lashing.

Now – for Mr. Bob Dart – I learned much from him too – I will never forget him standing in my sad sack apartment in Augusta has he dictated a story about the “scion” of a prominent Augusta familygoing to try in Augusta federal court “under the shade of a pecan tree.”

Dart was writing about a real estate heir who was on trial in federal court for leading “Operating Flying Circus” – a bizarre guns-for-cocaine scheme involving many planes landing in Augusta and the person the “scion” chose to test the coke was a DEA agent.

As talented as Wells and McCartney were chasing the cops and getting exclusive quotes – Mr. Dart is known for an amazing ability to put words together that were more descriptive than video.

When Dart came to Augusta, he wasn’t stealing my stories – rather he was ensuring the story would be of interest in future days when I dictated my words to Mr. Wells or Mr. McCartney (they insisted on being call by their first names but as I look back – using Mr. reflects my respect for both men).

I am sure you folks know more than I do about Mr.Wells and Mr.McCartney’s exploits and abilities to uncover the truth – one top Georgia State Patrol official once told me – that back in the day – they would have sent a police helicopter to pick up either man – if a reporter was needed at a remote breaking news story – due to deep respect the cops had for the ability that Mr. Wells and Mr. McCartney had for getting it right.

I could opine much longer – but I hope you get the feeling of respect that I and the people of the state of Georgia have for both men. They are probably running the AJC heaven bureau at 72 Truth Street just down from Scoop Blvd.

Your father Mr. Frank Wells was a very special man who had a great impact on my career.
I had the honor of being an east Georgia correspondent for the AJC in the 70s and 80s stationed in Augusta, GA.
I only met your father once – but talked to him on the phone for hours.
Mr. Wells was among a trio of honorable AJC curmudgeons (Mr. Keeler McCarty and Mr. Bob Dart) who taught me how to be a real reporter – noticing everything that was going on – not just the obvious.
After 35 years in the news biz (radio, TV, Newspaper), I look back at who profoundly changed the quality of my reporting.
God bless your family and if your father was often working instead of at home – know he was crusading for the people of Georgia in his own gruff way and wrapped up his career teaching dozens of eager would-be reporters at cities across Georgia how to be true journalists .
Near the end of their careers, Mr. Wells and Mr. McCartney still had much to give as they inherited the state news staff where they shaped future news reporters in ways a college professor could never do.
Before Woodward and Bernstein – Wells and McCartney made Georgia a safer and more honest place to live.
Thank you Susan for sharing a memory of your father with those of us who respected him.

Sincerely,
Greg Peterson along the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
1-906-401-0109
earthkeeper@charter.net

I got my start in the journalism racket at 72 Marietta St., sitting not far from you, in ’85, when the memory of Journal vs Constitution reporters was still fresh and the fiction of 2 papers was still maintained with the separate mastheads, editorial boards, columnists and comics for the AM and PM editions.

It’s been sad hearing of all my AJC heroes and mentors leaving the old “new” building in recent months. Maybe it’s just as well that the paper’s leaving too. Much of its soul already has.

Somebody turn off the lights on the way out. I’ll raise a glass of Tiger beer in the direction of Manuel’s from here in Singapore…

Beautifully written.

OMG.

Beutifully written, Tom.
Thank you.

Like a death in the family.
Like some of the roots of my family tree being wiped out by The New Plague.
Our family, more yours than mine.

Keep us posted on any tribute @ Manuel’s or The Biltmore.
All hail to you and those of “The Paper!”

…from a 5th-generation native Atlantan.