DAVID MCMILLIAN
It has been said that “retirement is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of the open highway.” Last year, Margaret “Maggie” Martin “retired” from The Times after nearly 56 years in journalism and hit the open highway. The road that she and husband Paul took has now led them to Focus SB! Beginning with this issue, Focus SB is launching a brand-new section: “MAGGIE!”
Through the years, Maggie has filled multiple reporting roles, from investigative reporting, travel, fashion, food, religion, medicine and education. “I am especially recognized for individual ‘Personality Profiles,’ and my incredible three Rolodexes filled with 56-plus years of sources from all walks of life.” Maggie received numerous awards from many press organizations and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
A career highlight for Maggie came in the 1970’s as part of The Times Enterprise Team, a group of reporters/editors investigating the late Shreveport Public Safety Commissioner George D’artois. During the investigation, Caddo Parish Grand Jury witness Jim Leslie was killed while in Baton Rouge. Leslie’s death is still a cold case, but the entire team was a finalist in the 1976 Pulitzer Prize competition for its investigation.
“I scooped the world when blues-rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, of Benton, married Hannah Gibson, daughter of actor Mel Gibson and wife Robyn in California. The press was not allowed to cover the affair, but I had a source inside, who described in a whisper everything to me on the telephone.
“Day-by-day, decade-by-decade, I captured life in my corner of the world, with words about local food, medical miracles, gala bashes and people who make the community go around in Northwest Louisiana. I hope during those years I touched many lives.” She did indeed touch many of our lives, and the great news is she’s not done yet; you read it here first!
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE March 26 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.