Don Woodward, former Deseret Information managing editor, is pictured in his workplace in January 2000. Woodward died on Sept. 18, 2022, at age 86. Tom Sensible, Deseret Information
Don C. Woodward is pictured on this undated household photograph. Woodward household
The Deseret Information for a few years honored one employees member yearly with its Mark E. Petersen Excellence in Writing Award. Initially, the award was judged by a panel of out of doors skilled journalists, however the identical man stored successful, and there was little cause to count on that sample to vary.
It was beneath the cautious and caring eye of that man, Don C. Woodward, that greater than a era of Utah journalists have honed their craft. He was the person that reporters, editors and photographers turned to for recommendation that was generally sage, generally fatherly and all the time targeted intently on being moral and doing what’s proper.
Woodward, 86, former Deseret Information managing editor and longtime award-winning journalist, died Sept. 18, 2022, at house in Bountiful, Utah.
When he was younger, he turned a stint as editor of the Provo Excessive College pupil newspaper into the start of a protracted profession, incomes a level at Brigham Younger College, the place he met his future spouse in a category on reporting. He and Julie Anne Pingree married in 1962 and had three kids: Leslie, Jane and Clay Woodward.
As phrase of Woodward’s dying unfold amongst former and present Deseret Information employees members this week, tributes poured in. If one have been retaining rating, the most-used descriptors have been “form,” “moral” and “an actual gentleman.”
“He was an incredible journalist, boss and good friend,” mentioned web page designer Heidi Perry. “He taught me the best way to put phrases with footage to assist inform compelling tales by means of design. I used to be fortunate sufficient to have the ability to journey my bike into work with him and others. Thanks, Don, to your kindness.”
Don C. Woodward is pictured on this undated household photograph.
Woodward household
“Don was a reporter’s editor. He revered — and supported — those that labored for him. I feel all of us beloved how he maintained his strong dedication to excellence — with out being overbearing,” mentioned Richard D. Corridor, himself a retired Deseret Information managing editor. “The Deseret Information is best for what Don did for, and dropped at, that storied group.”
For years, Woodward wrote an in-house publication he known as “Write On!” that lauded good work, provided work-related ideas and shared employees information. He was additionally awarded an expert journalism fellowship at Stanford College.
Even in retirement, Woodward’s ties to journalism — and to journalists — remained robust.
“He was an actual gentleman and one who deeply appreciated the writing craft. He nonetheless contacted me sometimes through the years, normally with some form phrases a few story I had written,” mentioned longtime Deseret Information sportswriter and columnist Doug Robinson. “He used to supervise the characteristic part on the DN and was an actual professional. And he was all the time nice — regardless of being an editor.”
Function author Elaine Jarvik, now a playwright, remembers him as “the gentlest of males, a agency editor who all the time led with a form coronary heart — and open to each loopy story thought I ever had.”
When he retired in 2000, columnist Jerry Johnston wrote that Woodward’s “ear for English has added grace to many options and columns. His information sense has introduced a measure of high quality to the information. However most of all, his beneficiant, private model has set a tone of civility on the newspaper and locally.”
Even opponents knew journalism was shedding an artist when Woodward retired. “I knew Don after we have been reporters,” wrote Bob Woody, a Salt Lake Tribune reporter. “We regularly lined the identical occasions. I used to be ever astonished by his accuracy and civility. He by no means compromised substance to ego, cleverness or laziness. He by no means indulged petulance or surliness. We've misplaced a superb and mild ‘gentleman of the press’ within the retirement of Don Woodward, Deseret Information managing editor. An actual professional.”
“Don was an ideal boss,” mentioned Robert Noyce, former artwork director for the Deseret Information. “He knew the best way to convey out one of the best in his coworkers with out leaning on them. He was probably the most form and mild particular person I ever met.”
Reminiscing earlier than his retirement, Woodward famous that he’d interviewed J.C. Penney amongst different notables and as soon as flew aboard a 747 earlier than it was licensed. He noticed tales in abnormal — and extraordinary — occurrences, together with what it’s prefer to be successfully trapped on a three-day cruise throughout a hurricane.
Born in Value, Utah, on April 3, 1936 to Don Carlos and Wyoma Lynn Woodward (he was the fourth era of sons named Don Carlos), Woodward grew up in Arizona and Nevada earlier than his household moved to Provo.
Previous to working on the Deseret Information, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland, then turned a part of the Utah Nationwide Guard’s 142nd Navy Intelligence Linguist Unit.
In retirement, Woodward made time for portray and woodworking, church service, associates and journey. In August, his household took a remaining journey collectively to Laguna Seaside.
A memorial service will likely be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, on the Bountiful thirtieth Ward, 650 E. 2150 South, Bountiful. Visitation will likely be in the identical location Friday, Sept. 23, from 6 to eight p.m. and from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, previous to the service.