Tinkham Made Special Contribution to Life

Twenty years ago, I had the privilege of working with Harley Tinkham at The Times. Tinkham, who died last week, made an impression I won’t ever forget.

I wanted to write as well as Tinkham. I wanted to know as much as Tinkham. I wanted to have as much fun in sports and life as he did.

People did not call Tinkham “Ace” solely because of the way he addressed them. Tinkham was the Ace because he was a unique person, a genuine person. People recognized those qualities in Tinkham.

Tinkham would use one of his favorite expressions, “What’s your lead?” to other track reporters. In reality, they wanted to know what his lead was because he always had the right angle to the story.

JERRY SOIFER

Corona