Editorial: Rollan Melton was a Nevada treasure

Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002 | 8:52 a.m.

Rollan Melton, a legendary newsman in Nevada, died in his sleep on Sunday at the age of 70. Melton worked his way up in the newspaper business, starting out at age 15 as a cub reporter at the Fallon Standard. His career in journalism eventually took him to the Reno Evening Gazette, where he ultimately became publisher of both the Gazette and Nevada State Journal in 1966. After the Reno papers merged with the Gannett newspaper chain in 1977, Melton became senior vice president of Gannett's western division.

Despite his many accomplishments as a newspaper executive, readers will remember him most for his columns, 4,000 of which appeared in the Reno Gazette-Journal since 1978. Readers loved his work because the columns often focused on the successes and hardships faced by everyday Nevadans. The intimate stories not only told us a lot about the people he profiled, but they also provided a window into the independent, rugged character that is a staple of Northern Nevada. Melton's kindness, and skill in telling a story as if he were having a relaxing chat with you in your home, will be sorely missed.