Journalist Dennis Myers honored at memorial

By Willie Puchert

Over 200 filled the McKinley Arts & Culture Center Sunday to pay their respects to the late Reno News & Review News Editor Dennis Myers, who died last month.

His colleague, Reno News & Review Editor Brad Bynum, opened the memorial saying that what made Myers such a great journalist was covering stories other news organizations weren’t and praised his modesty. 

“He often said he wished our articles didn’t need bylines, Bynum said. “He hated it when we had a ‘best journalist’ category in Best of Northern Nevada—even though he would usually win.”

Ironically a table at the memorial service was filled with awards Myers had won throughout his journalism career.

Former Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del  Papa, whom Myers served under as deputy when she was Nevada Secretary of State, referred to a song from Crosby, Stills & Nash song, which played moments earlier, to describe his sense of personal ethics. 

“All of us should have a code we live by,“ she said, quoting lyrics from “Teach Your Children.”   

A common observation among those who eulogized him was his reputation as a credible journalist even if he had to make personal sacrifices.

“He always strived to ensure the term, ‘honest journalist,’ was not an oxymoron,” said close friend Howard Rosenberg, former UNR professor and school board trustee.  

Another widely shared observation was his stories having an impact on Nevada politics, which was reflected in the RN&R’s cover story headline “Truth To Power.” 

Lifelong friend John Carrico recalled Myers story five years ago that gained national attention chronicling Republican state lawmaker Ira Hanson’s racist and bigoted columns in the Sparks Tribune. The uproar from the story ultimately led Hansen, now a Nevada State Senator,  to withdraw as speaker-designate of Nevada’s lower house.

“He brought down a Nevada politician who embraced white supremacy,” Carrico said.

After the memorial had concluded, former local news anchorwoman Lise Mousel, who was a colleague of Myers at KTVN Channel 2, confirmed a notion that several of Myers close friends seemed to share.

“The greatest gift that Dennis gave to any of his friends was to see himself in them,” Mousel said. “Dennis was incapable of telling a lie. And if he saw something inside of you, it was true.” 

In lieu of flowers, send donations to the Women & Children’s Center of the Sierra, 3905 Neil Road, Suite 2, Reno NV 89502. Donations can be made in his name via the organization’s website, waccs.org/

Willie Puchert is a former Sparks Tribune staff writer who served on the planning committee for Myers memorial .