Charlie Cain
It always sounds a bit trite to say, but I'll say it nonetheless: Charlie Cain was a pro's pro.
I worked with the Charlie in the Lansing Bureau at The Detroit News, and I marveled at the way he cranked out copy, cigarette lit at his desk, hands tapping away at the computer. He wrote with such ease and with context, thought and intelligence.
Charlie, who came from a family of journalists, knew Lansing politics, and it showed in his reporting. He knew the lawmakers, warts and all.
I last saw Charlie in 2008 when I went to the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame dinner. I was living in Washington at the time. We chatted briefly and I was touched that he brought up one of the things I used to say on occasion about The News: "They can take our dignity, but they can't take away our lunch."
We both laughed.
Charlie, who worked 34 years for The News and rose to bureau chief, died of cancer in July 2011. He was 60. Many years ago, I thought 60 was pretty old. That's not the case today.
On Sunday, Charlie was named one of the inductees in the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame for 2015. It's an honor well-deserved. The ceremony will be held April 19 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.
He'll be in good company with Betty DeRamus and Harvey Ovshinksy.
DeRamus, a great former columnist for the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News will be inducted that day along with Ovshinsky, a very well respected writer, story consultant, media producer, and teacher.
