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Accounts of Jerry Crawford鈥榮 40-year tenure at the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 tend to highlight how he helped guide the newspaper through the most profound changes in technology, competitive climate and scope of coverage in the history of the industry.

All true. His career spanned hot metal type to the internet, from the traditional daily newspaper delivered to your doorstep to the 24-hour online news cycle. His leadership through turbulent times was invaluable.

But even more valuable, in the view of people who knew and worked with him for years, were the things that didn鈥檛 change. Things like his absolute adherence to accuracy and fairness. His dedication to 鈥済etting it right.鈥� His belief that Journal subscribers were inviting us into their homes and they were to be treated with respect, in the newspaper鈥檚 content, tone and language. We were guests and should conduct ourselves accordingly.

Gerald J. Crawford joined the Journal as a copy editor in 1960 and rose through the ranks. He was named managing editor in 1964 and editor in 1976. He held that position until moving to senior editor in 1995 and from there to a position directing new media.

Crawford traced his Hispanic roots to the San Luis Valley of Colorado and was a trailblazer as one of a handful of Hispanics in executive news positions at the time.

It鈥檚 not something he discussed often, not surprising because he was a very private person. But when you knew him, he was incredibly funny and warm, and of course dedicated to the Journal and the search for truth. He was a tireless advocate for the 鈥渢axpayer,鈥� enjoyed a healthy skepticism of government in general and viewed the newspaper as a check on government power.

He died of an apparent heart attack in 2002 at the age of 72.

Crawford was meticulous in his editing. He would sit with reams of copy and carefully edit every paragraph with pencil, striking verbose material and asking questions that made you think. Yes, it could be painful, but it made the product better.

He was as meticulous and precise in his attire as he was in his editing, cutting a trim figure in coat and tie or on casual days, a cashmere sweater with fashionable jeans.

Crawford came from working roots and believed the newsroom deserved a professional appearance. He delivered.

Crawford was a quiet but effective champion of the First Amendment and was dedicated to exposing corruption. He was a founding director of the Foundation for Open Government and a former president of the New Mexico Press Association, as well as a member of that group鈥檚 Hall of Fame.

Journal publisher T.H. Lang described Crawford as a 鈥渄ear friend and trusted colleague.鈥� Journal legal counsel Jim Dines described him as a longtime friend and mentor and said that Crawford鈥檚 鈥減rinciples for the newspaper business and life would be good models for all of us.鈥�

Crawford dedicated his professional life to the Journal, the Lang family and the people of New Mexico. Like that newspaper on the doorstep every morning, he delivered.

Kent Walz succeeded Jerry Crawford as Journal editor, serving in that position for 22 years.