Inducted 1993
Wilbur Elston
editorial writer, The Detroit News, Grosse Pointe News
Wilbur (Bill) Elston, born in 1913, is a student of human nature as much as he is a student of world affairs. As such, Mr. Elston made a smooth transition from the professional world of journalism to the realm of academia. When, after directing the editorial voice of The Detroit News for 15 years, he reached the mandatory retirement age, Mr. Elston merely directed his attention toward teaching his craft at Wayne State University. As one contemporary described, “As far as Mr. Elston is concerned, journalism is not something one retires from; rather it’s a lifelong endeavor and way of life.” This way of life is one that Mr. Elston has taken seriously. His impeccably investigated and smartly written editorials were grounded in a personal sense of public duty, intellectual courage and high ethical standards. He had what his co-workers recognized to be a “masterful touch” as an editor. His mastery in the field is obvious in the classroom, but always generously shared. Mr. Elston’s commitment to his students as a teacher and former coordinator of the journalism department at Wayne State has been enlightening. One former student expressed well the joy with which Wilbur Elston taught: “Mr. Elston reinforced my hope that journalism was a life worth living, that my idealism hadn’t been misplaced and that newspapers can make the world a better place.” Bill Elston’s lifelong mission drove him not only to teach, but to return in 1980 to writing editorials, this time for the Grosse Pointe News. In his own words, Mr. Elston admitted, “Old journalists never die – and they don’t fade away either.”