December 2002, "Kewpie of the Month"
                           Heath Meriwether - 1962                                 2002
Read about Heath



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 

I graduated from David H. Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri in 1962
where I was the editor of the Purple & Gold.  While I was attending Hickman, I
also became a parttime sports writer for high school sports for the Columbia Daily
Tribune.  So journalism was always in my blood (My dad, Nelson Meriwether,
owned a print shop in Columbia.  My mother, Agnes Meriwether, worked as a
bookkeeper at Artcraft Press (my dad’s business).  They retired to Hannibal,
Missouri in 1969.  My mom died in 1990 at age 81.  My dad died in 1992 at age 87.
I came back for the 30th reunion in 1992 and saw a number of my classmates.
I’ve seen Ron Bartlett (actually stayed at his and his wife’s wonderful B&B in
Columbia) a few years ago, have heard from Dave Fearheller in California off and
on by email, heard from a few others in somewhat random emails.  I’ve always had
a place in my heart for Hickman, my classmates and Columbia.

by Heath Meriwether
November 15, 20002

 

Heath as publisher of the Detroit Free Press


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Heath J. Meriwether
Publisher
Detroit Free Press

Heath became publisher of the Detroit Free Press on Jan. 1, 1996. In 2002,
he was named chairman of the Ready to Succeed Partnership, a statewide
group of civic leaders and child advocates dedicated to improving a child's
nurture and education from pre-birth to age 5. The group has spearheaded a
movement that has produced $90 million in statewide programs to help
children, and their families, during these formative years.

He serves on more than 20 nonprofit boards with a special emphasis on
children, the environment, education, and the revitalization of Detroit. He
serves on the national boards of the Rails to Trails Conservancy and the
American Press Institute.

Heath began working at the Miami Herald in 1970 as a general assignment
reporter, moved into editing in 1972, with positions progressing from
executive city editor, assistant managing editor for news and managing
editor, and finally, being named executive editor in 1983.  While he was
executive editor, The Herald won five Pulitzer Prizes.  While Heath was
executive editor of the Free Press, the newspaper won two Pulitzer Prizes, as
well as numerous other national and state awards.

Heath graduated in 1966 from the University of Missouri with degrees in
history and journalism.  He received a Masters of Arts in Teaching degree in
1967 from Harvard University.

He and his wife, Pat, live in Ann Arbor, MI. They have two children:
Graham, 22, a recent University of Colorado graduate now living in New
York City, and Liz, 21, a junior at Yale.
 

Former Tribune reporter known for breaking Gary Hart scandal - Sept. 17, 2004
Think Detriot

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