Dusty Saunders, journalism icon who was Rocky Mountain News’ “north star,” dies at 90

Walter “Dusty” Saunders, who labored for the Rocky Mountain News for far more than a 50 %-century while creating himself as just one of the country’s top amusement critics, died Sunday at age 90.

Saunders passed absent in his slumber from normal triggers. He leaves driving a legacy as a Denver journalism icon, having created far more stories for the Rocky than any other columnist in the paper’s 149-12 months record.

“He was the paper’s north star,” said John Temple, former editor of the Rocky Mountain Information. “He wrote in a conversational way, normally telling it like he noticed it, nonetheless in no way becoming cruel. Readers could depend on him to chat to them like he was sitting in the exact room with them, and they could rely on him to answer the queries he understood they’d have.

“It’s hard to imagine Denver with out Dusty, or Colorado journalism with out him. He was a big — and a good person, a Denver gentleman.”

Saunders, a second-era Coloradan, was born on Sept. 24, 1931, in Denver. Each of his mothers and fathers died by the time he was 10, so radio, guides and sports grew to become his mates and pillars during his childhood. He attended Holy Household High Faculty, starring in basketball as a 6-foot-3 heart with a sweeping hook shot.

Following attending Fort Lewis and Mesa, both junior faculties at the time where he performed basketball, he graduated from the University of Colorado.

Saunders got his start off at the Rocky Mountain News as a copy boy in 1953. That was the start off of a 54-yr operate with the paper, the vast majority of it put in as a Television/amusement critic and columnist.

In that position, Saunders made a standing for remaining hard, but reasonable.

“Even if he was crafting a column that was crucial, he would usually connect with me initial to support me fully grasp what he was wondering — he would not just deliver a broadside,” spelled out Sandy Clough, a longtime region sporting activities talkshow host. “He shown that he valued substance about design — there could be always stylistic disagreements, but compound constantly mattered to him.”

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock stated, “You under no circumstances experienced to guess about what Dusty intended.”

“He represented the extremely finest of periods in journalism in Denver when information mattered, and he articulated the thoughts of his audience,” Hancock explained. “He was a community soldier in fact.”

Saunders’ effect on the industry extended properly beyond Colorado. He was a founding member and earlier president of the Television Critics Affiliation, which assisted broaden obtain for leisure reporters throughout the state.

“Dusty was a major determine in Television set criticism nationally,” enjoyment reporter Mark Wolf said. “The TCA wrenched command and tremendously professionalized the semi-once-a-year community screening/interviewing gatherings, making sure the functions would be open up to all journalists — not just these invited by the networks — and expanding the scope of the party much further than the forthcoming drop routine. The regard Dusty experienced amid each the critics and the Tv sector helped give TCA its clout.”

Clough explained Saunders as “one of the previous of the terrific storytellers.”

Private relationships were significant for Saunders’ reporting, and he was close friends with a prolonged listing of amusement stars, like the likes of stars Bette Davis, Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, Gregory Peck and Mary Tyler Moore. Ball, in truth, the moment chastised Saunders when he fell asleep on the sofa in her property in the course of an interview session. He and some fellow writers had expended a extended night time “on the town” the former night.

“Listening to him inform previous Hollywood stories never bought aged,” Clough mentioned. “He experienced a wonderful perception of the entire world of leisure, and he was a fantastic listener. He definitely was curious about other men and women and about what other individuals assumed. He could weave a yarn about some of the great actors, actresses, personalities and celebs over the yrs. There weren’t also many persons that he didn’t come to know, and that was reflected in his operate.”

Saunders is survived by his spouse of 67 many years, Anita, and four little ones and six grandchildren. His effect on his kids’ occupation decisions was also profound.

“His profession motivated our whole loved ones,” claimed oldest son Patrick Saunders, who is The Denver Post’s Rockies beat writer and the state’s 2018 sportswriter of the calendar year. “I went into the newspaper environment, my brother Steve went into the Tv organization for a amount of many years, sister Katie has been in the movie company as a costume and wardrobe designer for flicks and Television set, and my brother Bryan obtained into movie output on various amounts. It was like our entire lifetime revolved around the matters my father did.”

Right after retiring from the Rocky Mountain Information, Saunders worked as a freelancer for The Denver Article as a sports activities Tv critic. He was happy of his Irish heritage and liked playing tennis, reading, and checking out Laguna Seaside, Calif., on trip.

His passing leaves a void of “a correct primary and an institution in his personal correct,” national Tv set journalist Katie Couric claimed.

“He wrote it as he observed it — with candor and humor and when it was identified as for, compassion,” Couric reported. “I really feel lucky to have recognized him and his superb family. They never make them like Dusty any more. “

Details for Saunders’ services are continue to currently being finalized, but are possible to arise on June 16, the family said. It will involve a celebration of his everyday living at the Denver Press Club, in which Saunders was the former president and is in the Hall of Fame.