In Memoriam: Paul E. Fitzgerald Botetourt’s journalism icon
On Dec 3rd Botetourt lost a journalism Icon, Paul E. Fitzgerald of Fincastle. Paul and his wife Lee, were the owners, publishers, editors and often reporters of the Fincastle Herald for several decades from 1963 until 1984. He was a man who loved to tweak the nose of a politician, businessman or the high and the mighty. One of his favorite sayings was, “Never argue with a man who buys his ink by the barrel and his paper by the roll.” He was called “Fitz” by his friends.
He took pictures of the multitudes of students grade school through high school, sporting events, parades, beauty queens, political events, church events, car accidents, even a murder scene or two all done up in black and white. He was a master craftsman of stories and his reporting memorable. Often, not revealing his source, but protecting them with maybe a little jab to get the truth out in the public’s eye. Fitz held rousing debates in editorials and columns and often he was the source of ire in a Letter to the Editor. Once he told me, “Cathy if you aren’t making them mad, you aren’t doing your job.” I learned a great deal from him.
He left the Herald and spent 19 years with the DEA where he retired at age 79 (if memory serves me.) He came back to write columns for the paper. Once again, he was the source of many purchased papers as everyone wanted to see what he had to say in the week’s edition. Fitz loved to stir the pot!
I saw him almost every Wednesday for 8 years while I was at The Botetourt View. I covered a beat for people to bring me news at Mill Mountain Coffee in Daleville. He came early many days to chew the fat with the law enforcement fellas who frequented the place. He would spend an hour or so with me trading info about the goings on in Botetourt County. Those were good times.
He was on the Botetourt County Board of Elections and a nonapologetic Democrat.
He wrote a book about WWII artist Will Eisner and PS Magazine around 2009. Eisner is considered the father of graphic novels. Fitz was a troop train commander in WWII and worked with PS Magazine after the war. Brown University established the Paul E. Fitzgerald Memorial Collection of Will Eisner Military Art at the John Hay Library.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lee Davis Fitzgerald whom he often called, ”The current Mrs. Fitzgerald.” When asked about that, he would laugh and say, “She is the only one, but you never know!” Through thick or thin, they were quite a team.
They raised three children in Fincastle, Patrick, Kathleen and Clay. The world will be a bit duller without Paul Fitzgerald but I imagine somewhere in the Great Beyond, he is swapping stories with Eisner, Norman Sprinkle and others whose lives he touched. Good job Fitz on a life well lived.
–Cathy Benson, The Botetourt Bee. Photos courtesy of Clay Fitzgerald