A Southern Gentleman & Professional by any definition.....

Friends:

South Carolina has lost a huge piece of its humanity, color and gentle past.  Doug Nye, who recently passed away at the age of 69, was one of the finest newspaper professionals that ever worked at S.C.’s mark of journalism excellence – the State newspaper.

I had the pleasure and honor of working beside this multi-talented individual whose child-like curiosity and easy-going manner disarmed those around him and made people feel comfortable in conversations with him.

I met Doug shortly after joining the State circulation department in 1982.  He was polite, reasonable and compassionate; qualities that aren’t nearly as important in today’s bottom-line world.  Over the next 14 years, as Doug moved over to TV/Entertainment for the State and I grew into responsibility for most deadline issues for circulation, we became good friends and watched, a little shell-shocked, as the ownership, corporate culture and journalistic mission of South Carolina’s largest newspaper changed dramatically. 

The first big change came in 1986; the Knight-Ridder purchase.  We quickly learned what joining the big boys in Miami, Philadelphia, Detroit and San Jose was going to be like.  In 1987, due to industry shifts and lifestyle changes, the Columbia Record was discontinued.  Around 1991, internet numbers began to rise and newspaper numbers began to drop.  Aggressive pricing made the drop happen even faster for the State.  Even though this eventually would have taken place under any ownership, the way these issues were handled made many long-time employees uncomfortable. It speaks volumes that there are no Knight-Ridder newspapers today.  Their corporate culture is more suited to handling machines than people; and rests more comfortable in California, than on Shop Road in Columbia.  

Doug accepted this better than most.  And he was directly affected.  When told that he may no longer be able to attend the yearly TV Writers Convention in Hollywood due to budget, the source for many of his stories throughout the year, he shrugged it off and said he would still find a way to publish a TV section every day.

And that he did.  He knew old movies, Westerns, comic books, S.C and U.S. history and, of course, sports.  And he knew them all fluently.  This wide ranging knowledge, coupled with a humorous, easy-to-read writing style made him a hit with readers.  The man was an expert on the USC-Clemson rivalry.  He recited stats and scores from memory that were astounding.  Also astonishing was his ability to recall old movie titles and stars in even, minor roles.  You did not want to get into a game of Trivial Pursuit with this guy.

Amazingly, as his stature and reputation deservedly began to rise around the State; as he began interviewing the likes of Bob Hope and Tom Selleck, his attitude toward his old friends and colleagues never changed.  While he easily could have joined in the Knight-Ridder culture of that era - aggressive employee competition, survival of the fittest and get ahead at any cost, he chose not to; he was the same, level-headed, smiling Doug to friends and colleagues his entire career.

I didn’t see Doug much after leaving the State in 1996.  We saw each other at a couple of USC games and chatted at the Georgia game in Athens in 2001, 3 days before 9-1-1.  He called me shortly after my departure in 1996 and in that wonderful innocent manner expressed his shock and displeasure at the circumstances; and assured me that if I needed anything to call him.  And I know he meant it.

Doug Nye was one of the most unique individuals I ever met.  He rode the waves of life with calmness, wisdom, loyalty, compassion and a strong love for his friends and his family.  I’m not sure a man could have finer qualities.  I know my life was enriched by knowing him.  And so were the lives of thousands of others all over South Carolina. May he rest in peace.

Eddie Parker

West Columbia, S.C