Phelps, started Corpus Christi paper’s biz section, dies at 84

Grady Phelps, the first business reporter at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times who started its business section in 1974, died Thursday at the age of 84.

Meagan Falcon of the Caller-Times writes, “Beckner said Phelps strived to reach the journalistic standards of accuracy, verification, truthfulness and integrity in his writing and it stood out in many of the stories he reported.

“One of Phelps’ most memorable interviews, Beckner said, was with millionaire Blanche Moore. Moore owned 100 acres of farm land bounded by South Padre Island Drive, Everhart Road and Staples Street. This property later provided space for Moore Plaza Shopping Center and a string of national chains.

“In Moore’s only known interview granted to a journalist, she would not permit Phelps to take notes and he had to recall all her comments from memory. The story appeared in the March 27, 1979 issue in the Times. Phelps also interviewed famous political figures such as former president George H.W. Bush, former governor John Connolly and former astronaut and senator John Glenn.”

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Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.