Alec Tregone

Alec Tregone, editor of daily newspapers in Georgia and Alabama in the mid 1930’s and early 1940’s died March 16, 2010. Mr. Tregone reached his 96th birthday on June 1, 2009. Private graveside services will be held. A native of Monroe, GA, Tregone graduated from the University of Georgia School of Journalism in 1935. His first job was in Marietta, where he worked as associate editor on the weekly Marietta Journal. When the paper went daily in October, 1935, he became the editor. In 1940 he married the former Madge Schilling of Marietta, and by year’s end the couple moved to Rome, GA. Tregone served as city editor of the Rome News-Tribune. After work assignments in Rome and Gadsden, AL, he joined the Navy as a commissioned officer and served as a communications officer in the Southwest Pacific. As a Naval Officer he was stationed in the headquarters building of General MacArthur, the “Supreme Commander.” He served in New Guinea, the Philippine Islands, and aboard the Australian cruiser “Hobart” as the American Liaisons Officer handling fleet communications. After his World War II service through October, 1945, he worked briefly in Washington, D.C. as speech writer for President E.E. Norris, of Southern Railway. The majority of his career was spent in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Winston-Salem, NC, serving with the Veteran’s Administration in various top level management jobs. At his retirement dinner on Dec. 31, 1974, the administrator of the Veteran’s Administration presented him with the agency’s Distinguished Service Award. He and Madge, his wife of 70 years, returned to Marietta in 1978 and settled into their retirement home. The couple’s two daughters, Susan Johnson and Claire Tregone, preceded them earlier to the Atlanta area. Tregone was very active in civic and community affairs wherever his work carried him. In his last years as a retired senior citizen, he enjoyed being involved with St. James Church. He was first inducted into the Marietta Rotary Club in 1937 and later became an honorary member. Tregone was a 50-year member of the Society of Professional Journalists. He enjoyed golf after retiring in Marietta. He received nationwide publicity at age 70 for “acing” two holes in a single round of golf. All total, he had four “aces” in his 20 years of touring the links. His survivors include his wife, Madge, his daughters, Susan Johnson of Atlanta and Claire Tregone of Marietta, his nephew, Bill Hare of Atlanta and his nieces, Rena Sartain of Atlanta and Catherine Hare of Alexandria, VA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Emory Eye Center, 1440 Clifton Rd, N.E., Suite 170, Atlanta, GA 30322. Donations should be marked: In memory of Alec Tregone for Macular Degeneration Research. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 19. Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home & Crematory, Marietta, is in charge of arrangements. www.mayeswarddobbins.com Alec Tregone, editor of daily newspapers in Georgia and Alabama in the mid 1930’s and early 1940’s died March 16, 2010. Mr. Tregone reached his 96th birthday on June 1, 2009. Private graveside services will be held. A native of Monroe, GA, Tregone graduated from the University of Georgia School of Journalism in 1935. His first job was in Marietta, where he worked as associate editor on the weekly Marietta Journal. When the paper went daily in October, 1935, he became the editor. In 1940 he married the former Madge Schilling of Marietta, and by year’s end the couple moved to Rome, GA. Tregone served as city editor of the Rome News-Tribune. After work assignments in Rome and Gadsden, AL, he joined the Navy as a commissioned officer and served as a communications officer in the Southwest Pacific. As a Naval Officer he was stationed in the headquarters building of General MacArthur, the “Supreme Commander.” He served in New Guinea, the Philippine Islands, and aboard the Australian cruiser “Hobart” as the American Liaisons Officer handling fleet communications. After his World War II service through October, 1945, he worked briefly in Washington, D.C. as speech writer for President E.E. Norris, of Southern Railway. The majority of his career was spent in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Winston-Salem, NC, serving with the Veteran’s Administration in various top level management jobs. At his retirement dinner on Dec. 31, 1974, the administrator of the Veteran’s Administration presented him with the agency’s Distinguished Service Award. He and Madge, his wife of 70 years, returned to Marietta in 1978 and settled into their retirement home. The couple’s two daughters, Susan Johnson and Claire Tregone, preceded them earlier to the Atlanta area. Tregone was very active in civic and community affairs wherever his work carried him. In his last years as a retired senior citizen, he enjoyed being involved with St. James Church. He was first inducted into the Marietta Rotary Club in 1937 and later became an honorary member. Tregone was a 50-year member of the Society of Professional Journalists. He enjoyed golf after retiring in Marietta. He received nationwide publicity at age 70 for “acing” two holes in a single round of golf. All total, he had four “aces” in his 20 years of touring the links. His survivors include his wife, Madge, his daughters, Susan Johnson of Atlanta and Claire Tregone of Marietta, his nephew, Bill Hare of Atlanta and his nieces, Rena Sartain of Atlanta and Catherine Hare of Alexandria, VA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Emory Eye Center, 1440 Clifton Rd, N.E., Suite 170, Atlanta, GA 30322. Donations should be marked: In memory of Alec Tregone for Macular Degeneration Research. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 19. Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home & Crematory, Marietta, is in charge of arrangements. www.mayeswarddobbins.com