Former Standard editor dies at 85

By The Standard Staff - 05/30/2008

Bert Gaskill

Albert Francis Gaskill, who most likely held the editor’s seat the longest in The Montana Standard’s history, died Tuesday at the Butte Convalescent Center of pneumonia. He was 85.

Gaskill was the Standard’s chief news executive and newsroom administrator for nearly 20 years, from 1966 to 1985.

Gaskill hired many of the current newsroom staffers at the Standard, including editor Gerry O’Brien, associate editor Carmen Winslow, chief photo- grapher Walter Hinick and sports editor Bruce Sayler. Many would recall Bert phoning the city desk each and every night at 10 p.m. checking to see what was running on Page 1.

“He was the quintessential editor, he stood behind his reporters in public, and then chewed them out privately,” said former city editor Pam Swiger.

Former features reporter Andrea Ciabattari McCormick recalled being hired by Gaskill.

“I failed every journalism test he gave me, being an English major, but he hired me anyway. He was just a good boss, known to be firm and, yes at times, he could be grumpy, but underneath he was a wonderful man,” McCormick said. “He spent a long time editing my copy. He taught me a lot.” Gaskill was a stickler for journalistic style and accuracy. He often posted notes on a bulletin board about the correct way of writing a sentence or phrase, known to the staff as “Bert Grams” and always signed them -bg-.

Born in Helena on Sept. 1, 1922, he once claimed he had printer’s ink in his veins. His late grandfather, Bert, was a printer and his father, Al, was a retired Helena newspaperman.

Gaskill grew up in Beaverhead County and graduated from Beaverhead County High School in 1940.

After six years in the Navy, he entered the University of Montana journalism school in 1946. He worked two summers at The Standard during college days and then joined the staff permanently on March 15, 1949.

Many of Butte’s major stories of the day carried Bert Gaskill’s byline before he was promoted to editor. When the Anaconda Copper Co. owned the Montana Press, Gaskill said the unwritten, unspoken rule was, “You didn’t play up bad accidents or deaths if it involved company mines or property.” Gaskill, who never followed the company’s line, said that stories critical of Anaconda began appearing on the front page soon after Lee Enterprises purchased the newspapers in 1959.

In August 1992, Gaskill received the Navy Bronze Star for his service from Dec. 7, 1944, to May 10, 1942.

Gaskill and his former wife, the late Betty Bradley of Butte, raised five children: Jean, Cliff, Dan, Lee Ann and Patricia. There are eight grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Jim (Lois) Morrison of Spokane surviving.

He was preceded in death by his father, Al; mother and stepfather, Anna and J.C. Peters, and a sister, Giovina Hubbard.

Gaskill, who penned many of the notes for his obituary in the 1990s, requested there be no funeral or memorial services and that his body be donated to the WAMI medical educational program.

Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

It is likely that his ashes will be spread by his family in the area of Bloody Dick campground near Dillon, which he admired so much.

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