Edward Sykes, a prominent Nebraska newspaperman and Ogallala businessman, died July 6 at the Ogallala Community Hospital following an 11-month battle with cancer.
Sykes, 54, who called himself "Ol' Maverick," was part of many press activities across the state, including being assistant to the director of the Nebraska Centennial Commission, news editor of the Keith County News and Kimball Observer, and promotor (sic) of North Platte Nebraskaland Days.
Sykes was the longtime publisher of Western Outlook magazine, a monthly commentary and feature tabloid based in Ogallala that focused on southwest Nebraska and the southern Panhandle. His column, "Ol' Maverick," was the vehicle for commentaries on many Western Nebraska issues.
"He was a crusader. He always took the side of any controversy he thought was the best for the common man," said Jack Pollock, editor of the Keith County News, where Sykes began his newspaper career. "He was self taught. Everything he accomplished was purely through his own efforts and determination."
Pollock said Sykes "was a promoter of the caliber of W.F. Cody or P.T. Barnam."
Syke's promotional skills, developed during stints as assistant to the director of the Nebraska Centennial Commission and with the Idaho Tourist Bureau in the mid 1960s, contributed to the promotion of Nebraskaland Days from its beginning.
Last summer, Sykes was serving as volunteer promotion chairman for the Ogallala Chamber of Commerce's Boat Race and Air Show spectacular on Lake McConaughy when he became ill.
Sykes was president of the Nebraska Press Photographers Association for five years and also served on the executive board of the national association. He won the coveted Presidential Medal for news photography in 1961. He also served as president of the Western Nebraska District of the Nebraska Press Association.
Wayne Jacobsen, former regional editor of the North Platte Telegraph, said of Sykes: "He was not only a competitor but a very close friend. We covered a lot of the same stories. He always acted more like a big brother than a competing reporter."
Jacobsen, now a public relations specialist for Nebraska Public Power District, added, "He survived on being in the middle of a controversy. He was one of the old-time strong characters in the industry. A lot of the people he locked horns with were adversaries and good friends at the same time. He was a great asset to any community in which he lived."
Sykes was born August 6, 1926, in Ruskin, Nebraska. He joined the Navy in 1944 at age 17 and served with the amphibious forces.
His newspaper career began in 1946 with the Keith County News. He was promoted to advertising manager in 1950. In 1963, he joined the staff of the Kimball Observer for a year before taking positions with the Nebraska Centennial Commission and then the Idaho Tourism Bureau.
In 1967, he came back to the News as news editor for a year before resigning to become editor of Western Outlook, then published by a group of eight Western Nebraska newspapers.
Several years later, he purchased Western Outlook and also established a public relations agency. He sold Western Outlook to Pollock in March when ill health forced Sykes into retirement.
Survivors include his wife, Delores of Ogallala; three daughters, Rhonda (Mrs. Kent) Kroeker of Grant, Cynthia Sykes of Phoenix, Arizona, and Lori Sykes of Ogallala; one son, Gregory of Fort Morgan, Colorado; his mother, Mabel Sykes of Gothenburg; one sister, Mrs. Bob Ross of Gothenburg; and two grandchildren.
Services were Friday at 10 a.m. from the United Methodist Church in Ogallala with the Rev. Cecil Lackore officiating. Burial was in the Fort McPherson National Cemetery with full military honors by the VFW Post 3755 of Ogallala.
A memorial has been established to the Ogallala Hospital 1-VAC Unit.
The Nelson Gazette, Thursday, July 23, 1981; pg. 3
Sykes, 54, who called himself "Ol' Maverick," was part of many press activities across the state, including being assistant to the director of the Nebraska Centennial Commission, news editor of the Keith County News and Kimball Observer, and promotor (sic) of North Platte Nebraskaland Days.
Sykes was the longtime publisher of Western Outlook magazine, a monthly commentary and feature tabloid based in Ogallala that focused on southwest Nebraska and the southern Panhandle. His column, "Ol' Maverick," was the vehicle for commentaries on many Western Nebraska issues.
"He was a crusader. He always took the side of any controversy he thought was the best for the common man," said Jack Pollock, editor of the Keith County News, where Sykes began his newspaper career. "He was self taught. Everything he accomplished was purely through his own efforts and determination."
Pollock said Sykes "was a promoter of the caliber of W.F. Cody or P.T. Barnam."
Syke's promotional skills, developed during stints as assistant to the director of the Nebraska Centennial Commission and with the Idaho Tourist Bureau in the mid 1960s, contributed to the promotion of Nebraskaland Days from its beginning.
Last summer, Sykes was serving as volunteer promotion chairman for the Ogallala Chamber of Commerce's Boat Race and Air Show spectacular on Lake McConaughy when he became ill.
Sykes was president of the Nebraska Press Photographers Association for five years and also served on the executive board of the national association. He won the coveted Presidential Medal for news photography in 1961. He also served as president of the Western Nebraska District of the Nebraska Press Association.
Wayne Jacobsen, former regional editor of the North Platte Telegraph, said of Sykes: "He was not only a competitor but a very close friend. We covered a lot of the same stories. He always acted more like a big brother than a competing reporter."
Jacobsen, now a public relations specialist for Nebraska Public Power District, added, "He survived on being in the middle of a controversy. He was one of the old-time strong characters in the industry. A lot of the people he locked horns with were adversaries and good friends at the same time. He was a great asset to any community in which he lived."
Sykes was born August 6, 1926, in Ruskin, Nebraska. He joined the Navy in 1944 at age 17 and served with the amphibious forces.
His newspaper career began in 1946 with the Keith County News. He was promoted to advertising manager in 1950. In 1963, he joined the staff of the Kimball Observer for a year before taking positions with the Nebraska Centennial Commission and then the Idaho Tourism Bureau.
In 1967, he came back to the News as news editor for a year before resigning to become editor of Western Outlook, then published by a group of eight Western Nebraska newspapers.
Several years later, he purchased Western Outlook and also established a public relations agency. He sold Western Outlook to Pollock in March when ill health forced Sykes into retirement.
Survivors include his wife, Delores of Ogallala; three daughters, Rhonda (Mrs. Kent) Kroeker of Grant, Cynthia Sykes of Phoenix, Arizona, and Lori Sykes of Ogallala; one son, Gregory of Fort Morgan, Colorado; his mother, Mabel Sykes of Gothenburg; one sister, Mrs. Bob Ross of Gothenburg; and two grandchildren.
Services were Friday at 10 a.m. from the United Methodist Church in Ogallala with the Rev. Cecil Lackore officiating. Burial was in the Fort McPherson National Cemetery with full military honors by the VFW Post 3755 of Ogallala.
A memorial has been established to the Ogallala Hospital 1-VAC Unit.
The Nelson Gazette, Thursday, July 23, 1981; pg. 3
Edward Sykes, a prominent Nebraska newspaperman and Ogallala businessman, died July 6 at the Ogallala Community Hospital following an 11-month battle with cancer.
Sykes, 54, who called himself "Ol' Maverick," was part of many press activities across the state, including being assistant to the director of the Nebraska Centennial Commission, news editor of the Keith County News and Kimball Observer, and promotor (sic) of North Platte Nebraskaland Days.
Sykes was the longtime publisher of Western Outlook magazine, a monthly commentary and feature tabloid based in Ogallala that focused on southwest Nebraska and the southern Panhandle. His column, "Ol' Maverick," was the vehicle for commentaries on many Western Nebraska issues.
"He was a crusader. He always took the side of any controversy he thought was the best for the common man," said Jack Pollock, editor of the Keith County News, where Sykes began his newspaper career. "He was self taught. Everything he accomplished was purely through his own efforts and determination."
Pollock said Sykes "was a promoter of the caliber of W.F. Cody or P.T. Barnam."
Syke's promotional skills, developed during stints as assistant to the director of the Nebraska Centennial Commission and with the Idaho Tourist Bureau in the mid 1960s, contributed to the promotion of Nebraskaland Days from its beginning.
Last summer, Sykes was serving as volunteer promotion chairman for the Ogallala Chamber of Commerce's Boat Race and Air Show spectacular on Lake McConaughy when he became ill.
Sykes was president of the Nebraska Press Photographers Association for five years and also served on the executive board of the national association. He won the coveted Presidential Medal for news photography in 1961. He also served as president of the Western Nebraska District of the Nebraska Press Association.
Wayne Jacobsen, former regional editor of the North Platte Telegraph, said of Sykes: "He was not only a competitor but a very close friend. We covered a lot of the same stories. He always acted more like a big brother than a competing reporter."
Jacobsen, now a public relations specialist for Nebraska Public Power District, added, "He survived on being in the middle of a controversy. He was one of the old-time strong characters in the industry. A lot of the people he locked horns with were adversaries and good friends at the same time. He was a great asset to any community in which he lived."
Sykes was born August 6, 1926, in Ruskin, Nebraska. He joined the Navy in 1944 at age 17 and served with the amphibious forces.
His newspaper career began in 1946 with the Keith County News. He was promoted to advertising manager in 1950. In 1963, he joined the staff of the Kimball Observer for a year before taking positions with the Nebraska Centennial Commission and then the Idaho Tourism Bureau.
In 1967, he came back to the News as news editor for a year before resigning to become editor of Western Outlook, then published by a group of eight Western Nebraska newspapers.
Several years later, he purchased Western Outlook and also established a public relations agency. He sold Western Outlook to Pollock in March when ill health forced Sykes into retirement.
Survivors include his wife, Delores of Ogallala; three daughters, Rhonda (Mrs. Kent) Kroeker of Grant, Cynthia Sykes of Phoenix, Arizona, and Lori Sykes of Ogallala; one son, Gregory of Fort Morgan, Colorado; his mother, Mabel Sykes of Gothenburg; one sister, Mrs. Bob Ross of Gothenburg; and two grandchildren.
Services were Friday at 10 a.m. from the United Methodist Church in Ogallala with the Rev. Cecil Lackore officiating. Burial was in the Fort McPherson National Cemetery with full military honors by the VFW Post 3755 of Ogallala.
A memorial has been established to the Ogallala Hospital 1-VAC Unit.
The Nelson Gazette, Thursday, July 23, 1981; pg. 3
Sykes, 54, who called himself "Ol' Maverick," was part of many press activities across the state, including being assistant to the director of the Nebraska Centennial Commission, news editor of the Keith County News and Kimball Observer, and promotor (sic) of North Platte Nebraskaland Days.
Sykes was the longtime publisher of Western Outlook magazine, a monthly commentary and feature tabloid based in Ogallala that focused on southwest Nebraska and the southern Panhandle. His column, "Ol' Maverick," was the vehicle for commentaries on many Western Nebraska issues.
"He was a crusader. He always took the side of any controversy he thought was the best for the common man," said Jack Pollock, editor of the Keith County News, where Sykes began his newspaper career. "He was self taught. Everything he accomplished was purely through his own efforts and determination."
Pollock said Sykes "was a promoter of the caliber of W.F. Cody or P.T. Barnam."
Syke's promotional skills, developed during stints as assistant to the director of the Nebraska Centennial Commission and with the Idaho Tourist Bureau in the mid 1960s, contributed to the promotion of Nebraskaland Days from its beginning.
Last summer, Sykes was serving as volunteer promotion chairman for the Ogallala Chamber of Commerce's Boat Race and Air Show spectacular on Lake McConaughy when he became ill.
Sykes was president of the Nebraska Press Photographers Association for five years and also served on the executive board of the national association. He won the coveted Presidential Medal for news photography in 1961. He also served as president of the Western Nebraska District of the Nebraska Press Association.
Wayne Jacobsen, former regional editor of the North Platte Telegraph, said of Sykes: "He was not only a competitor but a very close friend. We covered a lot of the same stories. He always acted more like a big brother than a competing reporter."
Jacobsen, now a public relations specialist for Nebraska Public Power District, added, "He survived on being in the middle of a controversy. He was one of the old-time strong characters in the industry. A lot of the people he locked horns with were adversaries and good friends at the same time. He was a great asset to any community in which he lived."
Sykes was born August 6, 1926, in Ruskin, Nebraska. He joined the Navy in 1944 at age 17 and served with the amphibious forces.
His newspaper career began in 1946 with the Keith County News. He was promoted to advertising manager in 1950. In 1963, he joined the staff of the Kimball Observer for a year before taking positions with the Nebraska Centennial Commission and then the Idaho Tourism Bureau.
In 1967, he came back to the News as news editor for a year before resigning to become editor of Western Outlook, then published by a group of eight Western Nebraska newspapers.
Several years later, he purchased Western Outlook and also established a public relations agency. He sold Western Outlook to Pollock in March when ill health forced Sykes into retirement.
Survivors include his wife, Delores of Ogallala; three daughters, Rhonda (Mrs. Kent) Kroeker of Grant, Cynthia Sykes of Phoenix, Arizona, and Lori Sykes of Ogallala; one son, Gregory of Fort Morgan, Colorado; his mother, Mabel Sykes of Gothenburg; one sister, Mrs. Bob Ross of Gothenburg; and two grandchildren.
Services were Friday at 10 a.m. from the United Methodist Church in Ogallala with the Rev. Cecil Lackore officiating. Burial was in the Fort McPherson National Cemetery with full military honors by the VFW Post 3755 of Ogallala.
A memorial has been established to the Ogallala Hospital 1-VAC Unit.
The Nelson Gazette, Thursday, July 23, 1981; pg. 3
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