 NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ Mike McQueen, a former Florida International University journalism professor who later became chief of bureau
for The Associated Press in Louisiana and Mississippi, has died. He was 52.
McQueen,
who had been on medical leave since the spring, died Sunday from complications
of cancer and congestive heart failure. His funeral is scheduled for Friday in New Orleans, with a burial set for Monday in St. Augustine.
McQueen's
journalism career spanned three decades, including two stints with the AP and
work on two Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper teams.
``Mike's
passion for stories and his love for fellow journalists could light up a room.
He was a creative and caring editor and newsroom mentor. We are heartbroken
about his passing,'' said Kathleen Carroll, the AP's executive editor.
In
2006, McQueen returned to the AP as assistant chief of bureau in New Orleans,
helping manage the news report and AP's relationship with newspapers in the two
states. Later that year, he was promoted to chief of bureau.
``Mike
took on a big challenge when he came back to the AP,'' said Michael Giarrusso,
AP's regional news director for the South and West. ``It was just months after
Hurricane Katrina, and the two states, newspapers throughout the region and the
AP were still dealing with the aftermath of the disaster.''
McQueen,
formerly managing editor of The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph, was part of a
Knight-Ridder team of editors who traveled to the Gulf Coast region in the
aftermath of Katrina. McQueen worked with the Sun Herald newspaper of
Biloxi-Gulfport, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2006.
``I
will always remember him as a strong and able man who helped us in the time of
our greatest need,'' Executive Editor Stan Tiner said.
Ron
Harrist, longtime AP Mississippi news editor, called McQueen a true journalist.
``The
thing I'll remember most about Mike was how much he loved his job and he loved
the people who worked for him,'' Harrist said.
Earlier
in his career, McQueen was an editor at The Miami Herald, where he was part of
a Pulitzer Prize-winning team in 1993.
McQueen
began his career in 1977 as a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat after
graduating from Florida State University. He had a master's degree in
communications from Florida Atlantic University.
McQueen
joined AP for the first time in 1980, working in Miami as a reporter and
editor, and then in Tallahassee as correspondent before joining The Miami
Herald in 1984. McQueen later worked on the staffs of USA Today and Gannett
News Service, and served as chair of the journalism and broadcasting sequence
of Florida International University's School of Journalism and Mass
Communication.
McQueen
was a longtime member of the National Association of Black Journalists and was
the organization's Southeast regional director from 1986 to 1988.
Ronnie
Agnew, executive editor of The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., said McQueen
was an outstanding professional who helped promote diversity in journalism.
McQueen's
oldest son, Michael McQueen II, was killed in 2006. His roommate, a fellow
former U.S. Army Ranger he served with in Afghanistan, was convicted of murder
and sentenced to 35 years in prison.
``Even
in times of great tragedy, when he lost his son, he was still calling Jackson
to see if we needed anything from The Associated Press,'' Agnew said.
Survivors
include his wife, Glenda McQueen; son Otto of Thibodaux, La.; a younger
brother, Christopher McQueen of Miami; and a sister, Nicole Brewton of Pembroke
Pines.
Here
is the complete funeral information, according to a status update from McQueen's
sister, Nicole Brewton, on her brother’s Facebook page:
The funeral will be on Friday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. at St. Anna's Episcopal
Church, 1313 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, La. There will be a public viewing
on Friday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the church.
The funeral home in New Orleans is Charbonnet Funeral Homes, 1615 St.
Phillip Street, New Orleans.
Burial will be on Monday, Nov. 2 at the Evergreen Cemetery, 505 N.
Rodriguez Street, St. Augustine, Florida.
St. Augustine interment arrangements are handled by Leo C. Chase &
Son Funeral Home, 262 W. King Street, St. Augustine.
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