Current and former Michigan media professionals are among those posting tributes to Helen Thomas, the legendary White House correspondent who began covering federal agencies during the Eisenhower administration. 

The Wayne State alumna, who died Saturday morning at 92 in her Washington apartment, will be buried in the city that became home at age 4.

"Helen Thomas will be brought back home to Detroit, the beloved city of her youth, where she will be buried," says a statement issued this weekend by niece Suzanne Geha, a former anchor at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids.

Details about any public service haven't been disclosed.

In 1993, Thomas was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame at MSU.

Related coverage: Press Pioneer: Ex-Detroiter Helen Thomas, Longtime White House Reporter, Dies At 92

Ties to Detroit city include appearances at her alma mater, including one in May 1999 to speak about her career and sign copies of her second book, "Front Row at the White House." 

In January 2002, she spoke at a Detroit Athletic Club event honoring Bob McGruder when he was executive editor of Free Press and the second recipient of a Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity Award from WSU.  

The 2003 recipient was Gerald Boyd, New York Times managing editor then, and the 2004 honoree was Heath Meriwether shortly after he retired as Free Press publisher. In 2008, the Thomas Award went to Ken Cockrel, Jr., a former Free Press reporter who was Detroit City Council president that year. (The award was renamed in 2010 after Thomas made remarks widely seen as anti-Semitic. WSU still gives a yearly journalism scholarship in her name.)


Former Detroit reporter Jennifer Brooks, right, worked earlier with Helen Thomas at UPI in Washington.

These are among reminiscences about the brash correspondent:

Jennifer Brooks, former UPI and Detroit News reporter now at The Star-Tribune in Minneapolis: She loved her job so much, she used to show up for work before they unlocked the White House front gates. The guards would find her sitting there, humming happily, waiting for the day's adventure to start. . . . She used to take me out for vodka tonics and dispense dating advice. ("Never date a cheap man.") She didn't have a mean bone in her body. I loved that old lady. (Facebook)

Jon Zemke, modelD news editor: I got to meet Helen Thomas once while having drinks at the National Press Club when I covered Capitol Hill. She was friendly, gracious and just a cool person. I was a total fanboy. Got my picture taken with her.  (Facebook)

Michael Moore, Michigan filmmaker: While a compliant press did nothing [during Iraq war initially], one White House correspondent refused to be a tool. (Twitter, with link to YouTube clip of her questioning George W. Bush in 2007.)

Jocelyn K. Allen, a GM communications director in Detroit: "Spent an evening with Helen Thomas and her sisters about a decade ago. They were so feisty and full of life -- it was hard keeping up with them all night. Rest in peace, dear Helen. Those of us in media owe you a world of gratitude. (Facebook)

Meegan Holland, MLive Media Group news editor: She was a special, groundbreaking journalist. (Facebook)

Judy Woodruff, PBS NewsHour: Amazing trailblazer, fearless journalist and friend & mentor to so many women reporters. (Twitter)

Dean Reynolds, former UPI colleague now at CBS News: As much of a bulldog as she was, I remember how kind and thoughtful she was, too. She was always willing to help a young reporter through the thicket of White House press releases and pronouncements.  . . . And, yes, Helen had a blind spot when it came to Israel. The daughter of Lebanese immigrants, Helen was not shy about expressing her point of view when she thought the Israelis were in the wrong. . . .A lifetime of great work should not be overshadowed by a comment made at an advanced age. Cut her some slack. And the truth is, whatever bias she may have had, it did not make its way into her stories. (CBS News website, with 1-minute video below)