MAURICE LECKENBY, 62, PUBLISHER OF STEAMBOAT PILOT, DIES IN HIS SLEEP
Maurice W. LECKENBY, 62, editor and publisher of the Steamboat Pilot, died in his sleep at his home in Steamboat Springs Friday night or early Saturday.
A member of the Moffat Tunnel Commission, former Democratic national committeeman from Colorado, and past president of Colorado press association, in a lifetime of newspaper work and active Democratic party leadership he had gained statewide and nationwide recognition.
His wife, Esther, was in Presbyterian hospital in Denver for medical treatment and he was alone at his home at the time of his death. His friend and physician, Dr. Vernon Price, had been with him Friday evening before he went to sleep. Death was attributed to a hemorrhage, although LECKENBY had been in declining health for several months and resigned as Democratic national committeeman from Colorado last February because of illness.
The death was discovered when a friend, Angelo Iacovetto, and a Pilot employee, Tim Petersen, became worried when Maurice failed to come to the office Saturday morning. They went to the home about noon and discovered the body.
LECKENBY's son, Charles, and wife, were in Denver and learned of their father's death when they were called from a football game at the University of Colorado stadium at Boulder Saturday afternoon.
Funeral services were conducted at the Root Funeral home Tuesday afternoon by Robert Wither, Christian Science Reader. Interment was in the LECKENBY family plot in the Steamboat Springs cemetery.
LECKENBY's newspaper career was divided between work on the daily newspapers and press wife services in Denver, and on the family newspaper in the northwestern Colorado town of his birth which always was "home."
Maurice went to Denver at the age of 16 and began work as a cub reporter on the old Denver Express. For most of the next 20 years he served as a reporter in Denver for the Express, the Rocky Mountain News, the Denver Post and the Associated Press. He gained skill, contacts and reputation as a top Statehouse and political report. For short periods he returned to Steamboat Springs to work with his father on the Pilot, and at one time published a weekly newspaper at Oak Creek. He was regional manager for the Associated Press at Phoenix, Arizona. During World War II he served as an information officer for the Office of Defense Transportation in Denver.
He married Esther WAFER in Denver April 20, 1926. They are the parents of one son, Charles John. They also reared a niece, Shirley KIRKPATRICK (Cross), in their home from the time she was four years old.
While a Denver newsman, Maurice served one year as president of the famed Denver Press club, the oldest continuously operating press club in the country.
In 1945 he returned to Steamboat Springs to become co-editor and co-publisher with his father at the Pilot. Following the death of the elder LECKENBY in 1950, Maurice became editor and publisher. The family continuity is maintained. In 1958 Maurice's only son, Charles J. LECKENBY, who had studied journalism at Colorado University and worked in advertising in Spokane, Washington, returned to Steamboat Springs to join his father as so-publisher of the Pilot. Chuck's return enabled his father to take leave and serve as press aide in the office of his longtime friend, Senator John A. Carroll, in Washington, D. C.
When Maurice, a lanky 112-pound 16-year-old, first left home, he went through the preliminary processes of enrolling at the University of Colorado. The next day, however, the much more attractive offer of a job at $6 a week on the Denver Express cancelled all plans for formal higher education. An avid and wide-ranging reader throughout his life, Maurice was -- as his father before him -- largely self-educated.
In 1952 the University of Colorado honored its one-day former student with its citation as Outstanding Colorado Editor.
"Still a reporter and reader," the citation read, "LECKENBY sets today's news in the perspective of Colorado history, analyzes with keen discrimination, writes with appealing humor, courageously and persuasively expresses his opinions."
And even high honor was awarded by the university board of regents in 1961 when he was one of four citizens of Colorado chosen for the Distinguished Service award "for dedicated service to his community and to high education in Colorado."
In 1960, his light-hearted book, "Put A Head On It," was published. It was his account of the "interesting era in Colorado journalism" in which he took part, and the interesting people -- mostly newspapermen and political leaders -- with whom he was closely associated.
From the time of his father's death, Maurice served continuously -- except for one term -- on he Moffat Tunnel commission. Charles H. LECKENBY and the Pilot had been strong advocates and prime movers for the tunnel, a major factor in the development and prosperity of northwestern Colorado, and he had served on the commission from its formation until two years before his death.
Maurice's only other bid for elective office was in 1961, when he was chosen on first ballot at the Democratic party state convention as national committeeman for Colorado. He retired from the post last February.
Maurice was elected president of Colorado Press Association, trade and fraternal organization of all daily and weekly newspapers in the state, in February, 1957. During the ensuing year he visited many of the newspapers of the state and broadened his already wide circle of friends in the Fourth Estate, He also represented the press of Colorado, along with presidents and representatives of some 30 other state press associations, on a two-week tour of Ontario Canada, conducted by the province's travel and publicity bureau.
In 1952 the University of Colorado awarded Maurice the Crosman trophy for excellence in editorial writing. The Pilot won first honorable mention for general excellence in the National Editorial association Better Newspaper awards in 1955. It was sweepstakes winner for all weekly papers in the state typography and press-work competition in 1955 and winner in 1960, and runner-up in service to agriculture in 1957 and 1958.
The Colorado Education association presented the Pilot its Colorado School Bell award in 1961 for distinguished service in the interpretation of education.
Maurice W. LECKENBY is survived by his wife, Esther, who is seriously ill in Presbyterian hospital in Denver and was unable to come to Steamboat Springs for the funeral; a son, Charles John, his wife Nancy and their two daughters, Erin, 3, and Laura, 2, of Steamboat Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Marian NICHOLS of Denver and Mrs. Fritz BRENNECKE of Golden, and a niece, Mrs. John CROSS of Denver.
(Published in The Steamboat Pilot (Steamboat Springs, CO), Thursday, September 26, 1963.)
Maurice W. LECKENBY, 62, editor and publisher of the Steamboat Pilot, died in his sleep at his home in Steamboat Springs Friday night or early Saturday.
A member of the Moffat Tunnel Commission, former Democratic national committeeman from Colorado, and past president of Colorado press association, in a lifetime of newspaper work and active Democratic party leadership he had gained statewide and nationwide recognition.
His wife, Esther, was in Presbyterian hospital in Denver for medical treatment and he was alone at his home at the time of his death. His friend and physician, Dr. Vernon Price, had been with him Friday evening before he went to sleep. Death was attributed to a hemorrhage, although LECKENBY had been in declining health for several months and resigned as Democratic national committeeman from Colorado last February because of illness.
The death was discovered when a friend, Angelo Iacovetto, and a Pilot employee, Tim Petersen, became worried when Maurice failed to come to the office Saturday morning. They went to the home about noon and discovered the body.
LECKENBY's son, Charles, and wife, were in Denver and learned of their father's death when they were called from a football game at the University of Colorado stadium at Boulder Saturday afternoon.
Funeral services were conducted at the Root Funeral home Tuesday afternoon by Robert Wither, Christian Science Reader. Interment was in the LECKENBY family plot in the Steamboat Springs cemetery.
LECKENBY's newspaper career was divided between work on the daily newspapers and press wife services in Denver, and on the family newspaper in the northwestern Colorado town of his birth which always was "home."
Maurice went to Denver at the age of 16 and began work as a cub reporter on the old Denver Express. For most of the next 20 years he served as a reporter in Denver for the Express, the Rocky Mountain News, the Denver Post and the Associated Press. He gained skill, contacts and reputation as a top Statehouse and political report. For short periods he returned to Steamboat Springs to work with his father on the Pilot, and at one time published a weekly newspaper at Oak Creek. He was regional manager for the Associated Press at Phoenix, Arizona. During World War II he served as an information officer for the Office of Defense Transportation in Denver.
He married Esther WAFER in Denver April 20, 1926. They are the parents of one son, Charles John. They also reared a niece, Shirley KIRKPATRICK (Cross), in their home from the time she was four years old.
While a Denver newsman, Maurice served one year as president of the famed Denver Press club, the oldest continuously operating press club in the country.
In 1945 he returned to Steamboat Springs to become co-editor and co-publisher with his father at the Pilot. Following the death of the elder LECKENBY in 1950, Maurice became editor and publisher. The family continuity is maintained. In 1958 Maurice's only son, Charles J. LECKENBY, who had studied journalism at Colorado University and worked in advertising in Spokane, Washington, returned to Steamboat Springs to join his father as so-publisher of the Pilot. Chuck's return enabled his father to take leave and serve as press aide in the office of his longtime friend, Senator John A. Carroll, in Washington, D. C.
When Maurice, a lanky 112-pound 16-year-old, first left home, he went through the preliminary processes of enrolling at the University of Colorado. The next day, however, the much more attractive offer of a job at $6 a week on the Denver Express cancelled all plans for formal higher education. An avid and wide-ranging reader throughout his life, Maurice was -- as his father before him -- largely self-educated.
In 1952 the University of Colorado honored its one-day former student with its citation as Outstanding Colorado Editor.
"Still a reporter and reader," the citation read, "LECKENBY sets today's news in the perspective of Colorado history, analyzes with keen discrimination, writes with appealing humor, courageously and persuasively expresses his opinions."
And even high honor was awarded by the university board of regents in 1961 when he was one of four citizens of Colorado chosen for the Distinguished Service award "for dedicated service to his community and to high education in Colorado."
In 1960, his light-hearted book, "Put A Head On It," was published. It was his account of the "interesting era in Colorado journalism" in which he took part, and the interesting people -- mostly newspapermen and political leaders -- with whom he was closely associated.
From the time of his father's death, Maurice served continuously -- except for one term -- on he Moffat Tunnel commission. Charles H. LECKENBY and the Pilot had been strong advocates and prime movers for the tunnel, a major factor in the development and prosperity of northwestern Colorado, and he had served on the commission from its formation until two years before his death.
Maurice's only other bid for elective office was in 1961, when he was chosen on first ballot at the Democratic party state convention as national committeeman for Colorado. He retired from the post last February.
Maurice was elected president of Colorado Press Association, trade and fraternal organization of all daily and weekly newspapers in the state, in February, 1957. During the ensuing year he visited many of the newspapers of the state and broadened his already wide circle of friends in the Fourth Estate, He also represented the press of Colorado, along with presidents and representatives of some 30 other state press associations, on a two-week tour of Ontario Canada, conducted by the province's travel and publicity bureau.
In 1952 the University of Colorado awarded Maurice the Crosman trophy for excellence in editorial writing. The Pilot won first honorable mention for general excellence in the National Editorial association Better Newspaper awards in 1955. It was sweepstakes winner for all weekly papers in the state typography and press-work competition in 1955 and winner in 1960, and runner-up in service to agriculture in 1957 and 1958.
The Colorado Education association presented the Pilot its Colorado School Bell award in 1961 for distinguished service in the interpretation of education.
Maurice W. LECKENBY is survived by his wife, Esther, who is seriously ill in Presbyterian hospital in Denver and was unable to come to Steamboat Springs for the funeral; a son, Charles John, his wife Nancy and their two daughters, Erin, 3, and Laura, 2, of Steamboat Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Marian NICHOLS of Denver and Mrs. Fritz BRENNECKE of Golden, and a niece, Mrs. John CROSS of Denver.
(Published in The Steamboat Pilot (Steamboat Springs, CO), Thursday, September 26, 1963.)
MAURICE LECKENBY, 62, PUBLISHER OF STEAMBOAT PILOT, DIES IN HIS SLEEP
Maurice W. LECKENBY, 62, editor and publisher of the Steamboat Pilot, died in his sleep at his home in Steamboat Springs Friday night or early Saturday.
A member of the Moffat Tunnel Commission, former Democratic national committeeman from Colorado, and past president of Colorado press association, in a lifetime of newspaper work and active Democratic party leadership he had gained statewide and nationwide recognition.
His wife, Esther, was in Presbyterian hospital in Denver for medical treatment and he was alone at his home at the time of his death. His friend and physician, Dr. Vernon Price, had been with him Friday evening before he went to sleep. Death was attributed to a hemorrhage, although LECKENBY had been in declining health for several months and resigned as Democratic national committeeman from Colorado last February because of illness.
The death was discovered when a friend, Angelo Iacovetto, and a Pilot employee, Tim Petersen, became worried when Maurice failed to come to the office Saturday morning. They went to the home about noon and discovered the body.
LECKENBY's son, Charles, and wife, were in Denver and learned of their father's death when they were called from a football game at the University of Colorado stadium at Boulder Saturday afternoon.
Funeral services were conducted at the Root Funeral home Tuesday afternoon by Robert Wither, Christian Science Reader. Interment was in the LECKENBY family plot in the Steamboat Springs cemetery.
LECKENBY's newspaper career was divided between work on the daily newspapers and press wife services in Denver, and on the family newspaper in the northwestern Colorado town of his birth which always was "home."
Maurice went to Denver at the age of 16 and began work as a cub reporter on the old Denver Express. For most of the next 20 years he served as a reporter in Denver for the Express, the Rocky Mountain News, the Denver Post and the Associated Press. He gained skill, contacts and reputation as a top Statehouse and political report. For short periods he returned to Steamboat Springs to work with his father on the Pilot, and at one time published a weekly newspaper at Oak Creek. He was regional manager for the Associated Press at Phoenix, Arizona. During World War II he served as an information officer for the Office of Defense Transportation in Denver.
He married Esther WAFER in Denver April 20, 1926. They are the parents of one son, Charles John. They also reared a niece, Shirley KIRKPATRICK (Cross), in their home from the time she was four years old.
While a Denver newsman, Maurice served one year as president of the famed Denver Press club, the oldest continuously operating press club in the country.
In 1945 he returned to Steamboat Springs to become co-editor and co-publisher with his father at the Pilot. Following the death of the elder LECKENBY in 1950, Maurice became editor and publisher. The family continuity is maintained. In 1958 Maurice's only son, Charles J. LECKENBY, who had studied journalism at Colorado University and worked in advertising in Spokane, Washington, returned to Steamboat Springs to join his father as so-publisher of the Pilot. Chuck's return enabled his father to take leave and serve as press aide in the office of his longtime friend, Senator John A. Carroll, in Washington, D. C.
When Maurice, a lanky 112-pound 16-year-old, first left home, he went through the preliminary processes of enrolling at the University of Colorado. The next day, however, the much more attractive offer of a job at $6 a week on the Denver Express cancelled all plans for formal higher education. An avid and wide-ranging reader throughout his life, Maurice was -- as his father before him -- largely self-educated.
In 1952 the University of Colorado honored its one-day former student with its citation as Outstanding Colorado Editor.
"Still a reporter and reader," the citation read, "LECKENBY sets today's news in the perspective of Colorado history, analyzes with keen discrimination, writes with appealing humor, courageously and persuasively expresses his opinions."
And even high honor was awarded by the university board of regents in 1961 when he was one of four citizens of Colorado chosen for the Distinguished Service award "for dedicated service to his community and to high education in Colorado."
In 1960, his light-hearted book, "Put A Head On It," was published. It was his account of the "interesting era in Colorado journalism" in which he took part, and the interesting people -- mostly newspapermen and political leaders -- with whom he was closely associated.
From the time of his father's death, Maurice served continuously -- except for one term -- on he Moffat Tunnel commission. Charles H. LECKENBY and the Pilot had been strong advocates and prime movers for the tunnel, a major factor in the development and prosperity of northwestern Colorado, and he had served on the commission from its formation until two years before his death.
Maurice's only other bid for elective office was in 1961, when he was chosen on first ballot at the Democratic party state convention as national committeeman for Colorado. He retired from the post last February.
Maurice was elected president of Colorado Press Association, trade and fraternal organization of all daily and weekly newspapers in the state, in February, 1957. During the ensuing year he visited many of the newspapers of the state and broadened his already wide circle of friends in the Fourth Estate, He also represented the press of Colorado, along with presidents and representatives of some 30 other state press associations, on a two-week tour of Ontario Canada, conducted by the province's travel and publicity bureau.
In 1952 the University of Colorado awarded Maurice the Crosman trophy for excellence in editorial writing. The Pilot won first honorable mention for general excellence in the National Editorial association Better Newspaper awards in 1955. It was sweepstakes winner for all weekly papers in the state typography and press-work competition in 1955 and winner in 1960, and runner-up in service to agriculture in 1957 and 1958.
The Colorado Education association presented the Pilot its Colorado School Bell award in 1961 for distinguished service in the interpretation of education.
Maurice W. LECKENBY is survived by his wife, Esther, who is seriously ill in Presbyterian hospital in Denver and was unable to come to Steamboat Springs for the funeral; a son, Charles John, his wife Nancy and their two daughters, Erin, 3, and Laura, 2, of Steamboat Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Marian NICHOLS of Denver and Mrs. Fritz BRENNECKE of Golden, and a niece, Mrs. John CROSS of Denver.
(Published in The Steamboat Pilot (Steamboat Springs, CO), Thursday, September 26, 1963.)
Maurice W. LECKENBY, 62, editor and publisher of the Steamboat Pilot, died in his sleep at his home in Steamboat Springs Friday night or early Saturday.
A member of the Moffat Tunnel Commission, former Democratic national committeeman from Colorado, and past president of Colorado press association, in a lifetime of newspaper work and active Democratic party leadership he had gained statewide and nationwide recognition.
His wife, Esther, was in Presbyterian hospital in Denver for medical treatment and he was alone at his home at the time of his death. His friend and physician, Dr. Vernon Price, had been with him Friday evening before he went to sleep. Death was attributed to a hemorrhage, although LECKENBY had been in declining health for several months and resigned as Democratic national committeeman from Colorado last February because of illness.
The death was discovered when a friend, Angelo Iacovetto, and a Pilot employee, Tim Petersen, became worried when Maurice failed to come to the office Saturday morning. They went to the home about noon and discovered the body.
LECKENBY's son, Charles, and wife, were in Denver and learned of their father's death when they were called from a football game at the University of Colorado stadium at Boulder Saturday afternoon.
Funeral services were conducted at the Root Funeral home Tuesday afternoon by Robert Wither, Christian Science Reader. Interment was in the LECKENBY family plot in the Steamboat Springs cemetery.
LECKENBY's newspaper career was divided between work on the daily newspapers and press wife services in Denver, and on the family newspaper in the northwestern Colorado town of his birth which always was "home."
Maurice went to Denver at the age of 16 and began work as a cub reporter on the old Denver Express. For most of the next 20 years he served as a reporter in Denver for the Express, the Rocky Mountain News, the Denver Post and the Associated Press. He gained skill, contacts and reputation as a top Statehouse and political report. For short periods he returned to Steamboat Springs to work with his father on the Pilot, and at one time published a weekly newspaper at Oak Creek. He was regional manager for the Associated Press at Phoenix, Arizona. During World War II he served as an information officer for the Office of Defense Transportation in Denver.
He married Esther WAFER in Denver April 20, 1926. They are the parents of one son, Charles John. They also reared a niece, Shirley KIRKPATRICK (Cross), in their home from the time she was four years old.
While a Denver newsman, Maurice served one year as president of the famed Denver Press club, the oldest continuously operating press club in the country.
In 1945 he returned to Steamboat Springs to become co-editor and co-publisher with his father at the Pilot. Following the death of the elder LECKENBY in 1950, Maurice became editor and publisher. The family continuity is maintained. In 1958 Maurice's only son, Charles J. LECKENBY, who had studied journalism at Colorado University and worked in advertising in Spokane, Washington, returned to Steamboat Springs to join his father as so-publisher of the Pilot. Chuck's return enabled his father to take leave and serve as press aide in the office of his longtime friend, Senator John A. Carroll, in Washington, D. C.
When Maurice, a lanky 112-pound 16-year-old, first left home, he went through the preliminary processes of enrolling at the University of Colorado. The next day, however, the much more attractive offer of a job at $6 a week on the Denver Express cancelled all plans for formal higher education. An avid and wide-ranging reader throughout his life, Maurice was -- as his father before him -- largely self-educated.
In 1952 the University of Colorado honored its one-day former student with its citation as Outstanding Colorado Editor.
"Still a reporter and reader," the citation read, "LECKENBY sets today's news in the perspective of Colorado history, analyzes with keen discrimination, writes with appealing humor, courageously and persuasively expresses his opinions."
And even high honor was awarded by the university board of regents in 1961 when he was one of four citizens of Colorado chosen for the Distinguished Service award "for dedicated service to his community and to high education in Colorado."
In 1960, his light-hearted book, "Put A Head On It," was published. It was his account of the "interesting era in Colorado journalism" in which he took part, and the interesting people -- mostly newspapermen and political leaders -- with whom he was closely associated.
From the time of his father's death, Maurice served continuously -- except for one term -- on he Moffat Tunnel commission. Charles H. LECKENBY and the Pilot had been strong advocates and prime movers for the tunnel, a major factor in the development and prosperity of northwestern Colorado, and he had served on the commission from its formation until two years before his death.
Maurice's only other bid for elective office was in 1961, when he was chosen on first ballot at the Democratic party state convention as national committeeman for Colorado. He retired from the post last February.
Maurice was elected president of Colorado Press Association, trade and fraternal organization of all daily and weekly newspapers in the state, in February, 1957. During the ensuing year he visited many of the newspapers of the state and broadened his already wide circle of friends in the Fourth Estate, He also represented the press of Colorado, along with presidents and representatives of some 30 other state press associations, on a two-week tour of Ontario Canada, conducted by the province's travel and publicity bureau.
In 1952 the University of Colorado awarded Maurice the Crosman trophy for excellence in editorial writing. The Pilot won first honorable mention for general excellence in the National Editorial association Better Newspaper awards in 1955. It was sweepstakes winner for all weekly papers in the state typography and press-work competition in 1955 and winner in 1960, and runner-up in service to agriculture in 1957 and 1958.
The Colorado Education association presented the Pilot its Colorado School Bell award in 1961 for distinguished service in the interpretation of education.
Maurice W. LECKENBY is survived by his wife, Esther, who is seriously ill in Presbyterian hospital in Denver and was unable to come to Steamboat Springs for the funeral; a son, Charles John, his wife Nancy and their two daughters, Erin, 3, and Laura, 2, of Steamboat Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Marian NICHOLS of Denver and Mrs. Fritz BRENNECKE of Golden, and a niece, Mrs. John CROSS of Denver.
(Published in The Steamboat Pilot (Steamboat Springs, CO), Thursday, September 26, 1963.)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
