Mary Lou Forbes, the Commentary editor of the Washington Times, passed away on Saturday less than 2 weeks after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1959 for her coverage of school desegregation fights in Virginia.
Mary Lou was one of the most pleasant editors I have dealt with. She was open to hard-hitting articles that would make other editors flinch. She especially enjoyed detailed exposes of how government bureaucracies were running amok.
I last spoke to her on June 10. She sounded in good spirits – with her usual combination of Southern charm and natural smarts. Her rare combination of grace, toughness, and sound judgment will not soon be equaled in Washington.
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