Once my grandfather returned home from serving his time in the Korean War in 1952, he went back to his old job with the L&N Railroad as a machinist. After a few years of working there & the birth of his first child in 1953, he decided that he needed a better job. It wasn’t long before an old Marine buddy told him of a photographer’s position at the Nashville Banner Newspaper. Joining the Banner in 1954 on a trial basis as a member of the photo staff, his first photograph was published in the paper on May 4, 1955.
As a lensmen he specialized in aerial photos & police action pictures. Labeled as a courageous photojournalist, he never wavered in the face of dangerous assignments. Throughout his newspaper career he covered fires, accidents, many crime scenes, shootings (including the shooting of his own son, Berry Hill Police Officer, Mike Goodman), Nashville’s race riots in the 1950’s, strikes, Civil Rights demonstrations in the 1960’s & political controversies. He was also responsible for photographing all presidents from 1965 all the way up to the George H.W. Bush Administration & more.
Along the way he won several awards & gained recognitions for his photos. He won several contests conducted by the Middle Tennessee News Photographers Association one of which was in 1958 (placing 2nd in pictorial for his sharp black & white contrast aerial view of the traffic ramps entering James Robertson Parkway). He also won 2nd place in sports news photography for a contest with the Tennessee Press Association in 1962. His photos have been honored, displayed at a many events & featured in many newspapers such as the Washington Daily & the April 1961 issue of the National Enquirer Magazine likewise Best Sports Stories of 1973 showcased one of his award-winning sports photographs as well. He was a member of the National Press Photographers Association & belonged to the Middle Tennessee News Photographers Association serving as Vice-President in 1959 & President in 1960. In the 1970’s he was a newsman for WLAC-TV often appearing as a guest to report & discuss the topics at hand.
Eventually getting out of what he called the rat race, he retired in 1990 with the Banner not too far behind printing their final edition February 20, 1998. Though he put his time as newspaperman to bed he remained proud of his Banner days which could always be seen on his retirement era business cards. What began as thirty-day trial turned into a highly respected thirty-six-year career that will always be appreciated.
