To the Editor:
I worked with Virgil Shipley at the Mount Vernon News from February 2005 to August 2008. I was a reporter, and I loved going on assignment with him.
Virgil never hesitated to flee the newsroom at a moment's notice to accompany me if I presented the mere possibility of a news story to him.
Always a professional, he was essentially an old-school newsman at heart. Whenever I was on assignment with him, he would often get names and quotes on his own, in addition to fabulous pictures. This can be an invaluable aid for a reporter in the midst of a busy and often bewildering event.
Virgil inspired just about everyone with whom he worked and helped many to learn more about photography. His dark room at the newspaper was – to me – like a vault and museum of photography.
Virgil told me that he had opportunities to work for a bigger newspaper. I admire his passion for local news and think his body of work shows how all news is essentially local.
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