Walford J. Lewis, 80, who was known as Buddy Lewis, dean ofpolice reporters, when he retired after his 47-year career inChicago, died Friday at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey.
Mr. Lewis, who worked at the old Chicago Daily News, was a topcrime reporter known for attention to detail and patience.
"His ability to get all the details of a story was legendary,"said Robert G. Schultz, who was the Daily News city editor when Mr.Lewis retired in 1971.
"He was accurate and thorough, and typically he would often havemore detail than the reporter who was on the scene simply because hehad so many contacts," Schultz said.
Mr. Lewis, a resident of Dolton, grew up on Chicago's SouthSide. He graduated from Hyde Park High School and at 17 began hiscareer at the Daily News in 1924.
He worked his way up a colorful ladder at the Daily News,starting as an assistant secretary to the managing editor and movingon to picture chaser, which required him to pick up photos of peoplein the news. At the same time, Mr. Lewis took night courses at theMedill School of Journalism of Northwestern University.
In 1930, Mr. Lewis took over the Daily News night police beat andworkedout of police headquarters, 11th and State, until retiring. Heoutlasted several police commissioners and editors and ushered intothe business countless new faces.
"Through it all, Buddy Lewis's hallmark was patience," wroteDonald Zochert in a 1971 Daily News article on Mr. Lewis'sretirement. "It took patience to show a green kid how to get a story,who to ask, what to ask, how to ask it, what a fact is and what afact isn't."
Mr. Lewis was known as honest, tenacious and fair. Manyreporters remember fondly Mr. Lewis's trademark signout, which was toask the city desk and rewrite bank for a good night. In response,reporters would answer up and down the rewrite bank, "You've got agood night, Bud."
Despite the hard news he covered daily, he kept an eye forbeauty, working tirelessly on his garden.
A veteran of World War II, Mr. Lewis served in the U.S. Army inthe Middle East, Africa and Europe.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jeannette; a daughter,Mary, and a sister. There will be no services.
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