Former Wisconsin State Journal biz reporter dies

Roger Gribble, a longtime reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal who was a business reporter during the latter part of his career, has died of cancer, according to a story in the paper.

William Wineke wrote, “Even shortly before his death, he took telephone calls from friends wishing to say goodbye and dictated the words by which he wished to be remembered: ‘Tell people that I was a lucky man. In terms of family, friends and an interesting life, I ‘ve been more blessed than anyone could imagine.’

“A native of Rockford, Ill., Gribble earned a bachelor ‘s degree in journalism from UW-Madison in 1955 and a master ‘s degree, also in journalism, in 1964. He joined the State Journal staff in 1962 and spent much of his career as an education reporter. He won the Wisconsin Association of School Boards ‘ award for outstanding reporting in 1969 and the award of merit of the Wisconsin Vocational Association in 1985. In later years, he was a business reporter.

“He was a judge of the Madison Spelling Bee from 1978 through this year. He was also a judge for the Badger State Spelling Bee for many years.”

Read more here.