Harvey H. Belgin, 91, died Dec. 30, 2003 at Frank Tejeda Texas Veterans Home in Floresville.

He was a 35-year photographer at the San Antonio Light. In 1952 he received a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his photo of a farmer rejoicing at the first rainstorm after a record-breaking drought in the 1950s.

He was named one of the best photographers of the last half century by Associated Press and was chosen for Encyclopedia Britannica’s “Pictures of the Year.” His combat photography series from Japan and the Philippines was shown as the “Peace in War” exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute.

Bill Brooks, 78, died Dec. 11, 2003 at West Texas VA Health Care System in Big Spring.

For 37 years he was a newspaper hawker, sitting on the steps of the downtown Abilene post office selling the Abilene Reporter-News.

Once during his career the postmaster barred him from selling on the property after complaints but public outcry got him reinstated.

Berna Lee Chick, 84, died Dec. 19, 2003 at Abilene Regional Hospital. She wrote a weekly column for the Rising Star and published a book with her poetry and short stories.

Lewis W. “Lew” Harris, 78, died Dec. 4, 2003 of cancer.

He first worked as a reporter when he was 14 at The Paris News. He was night city editor of The Dallas Morning News where he stayed until 1964 when he became city editor of the Midland Reporter-Telegram.

In 1966 he moved to the Dallas Times Herald where he teamed with Jim Lehrer on the city desk and investigative reporting. He retired in 1986.

Jerry Holdman, 63, died Dec. 6, 2003 in an auto accident.

He was a composing room employee at the San Antonio Express News for 30 years from 1970-2001. He began his career at the Pecos Enterprise and spent most of his life in a newspaper back shop.

He also worked at the Abilene Reporter-News, The Dallas Morning News and Midland Reporter-Telegram.

Mary Ann Walker Hunter, 69, of Athens, died Dec. 13, 2003.

She began her career in journalism at the Athens Daily Review as a member of the editorial staff, where she worked from 1980-87.

She continued her career at Trinity Valley Community College, where she was a public information officer and a photography and journalism instructor, retiring in 1996.

Paul Arthur Kolsti, 50, died Dec. 8, 2003 of pulmonary hypertension at a New York hospital.

He was a staff editorial cartoonist off and on at The Dallas Morning News from 1977 to 1989, and was known for his signature cross-hatching drawing style. He worked at newspapers in Washington, Oregon and New Jersey at The Daily Record where he was until two months ago.

Vernie Paralee Newsom “Vee” McClure, 77, died Dec. 13, 2003 of complications after surgery at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. She was general advertising secretary for The Dallas Morning News from 1982-91.

James Moncrief, 75, died Dec. 27, 2003.

He was a pressman for The Dallas Morning News for 27 years and started at the Tyler Courier Times.

Kenneth Thompson, 68, died Dec. 6, 2003 of lung cancer.

He was an editorial writer and columnist for The Dallas Morning News from 1961-66.

He was press secretary for U.S. Sen. Steve Symms, R-Idaho, in the 1980s and was director of policy for Voice of America.

Nelda Grace Stogsdill, 67, died Dec. 15, 2003.

She was a photographer for the Levelland Leader, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and Morton Tribune for several years.