The Wall of Distinction
(C) 2008 Syracuse Press Club.
A. Brohmann Roth
Herald-Journal / Herald American
Press Club President: 1975
A true newspaperman of the old school, even after Brohmann Roth became an assistant city editor and later a columnist, at heart he never forgot that he was first and foremost a reporter. He also never forgot his roots in Syracuse.
During his early days as a reporter, his byline topped some of the biggest news stories of the pre-Depression and "bathroom gin" era in Central New York. "Bro," as he was called by his friends, covered murder trials, bootlegging cases, politics and government, and wrote many human interest features.
Then and later, his snappy leads, fluent writing style and accuracy were envied -- and respected -- by both his co-workers and competitors.
Bro broke into newspaper reporting with the old Syracuse Telegram in 1924 after graduating from Syracuse University. He was paid 10 cents an inch for his news stories until, as he recalled, "they decided it was cheaper to pay me $25 a week" because of the volume of copy he turned out.
He moved to the Syracuse Herald in 1927 as a rewrite man. No reporter who gave him the information for a story ever forgot Bro?s fast-paced questions: one after another, often needed to dig out the most information a reader would want to know. Reporters working against a deadline were happy when they got Bro on the phone because his fast typing allowed them to get the full story in -- and on time.
When the Herald and the Journal merged in 1939, Bro was assigned to the federal beat. At the same time, he also began his long-running series of amusing birthday stories which quickly became one of the best-read features in the Herald-Journal. His promotion to assistant city editor in 1946 made him responsible for local and area news in the afternoon newspaper?s first edition, the deadline for which was 8 a.m. When his city desk duties allowed, Bro also helped out by rewriting, or even taking reporters? dictation over the phone.
In 1961, Bro returned to reporting as the paper?s political writer and Albany correspondent. As part of his new job, he started writing a column, "In the Know," which ran in the Sunday Herald-American. Ten years later, he left politics to start another column, "Roaming With Brohmann," which ran Monday through Friday and on Sunday.
Bro wrote about what interested him, which included almost anything and everything that the man --and woman-- on the street wanted to read about: personal notes, news tidbits, announcements, gossip and sometimes even politics and birthdays. The column quickly gained popularity throughout the Herald coverage area.
A debilitating stroke forced an end to Bro?s career in 1975. That was the year Bro was also serving as president of the Syracuse Press Club.
Bro Roth was a native of Syracuse and never wanted to live anywhere else. He grew up on Gifford street and graduated from St. Lucy?s School, then the old Travis Preparatory School, and finally, SU. When Bro died in 1980, services were held in his beloved St. Lucy?s Roman Catholic Church.
His one other passion was sailing area waters with wife Agnes ("Peg") and daughter Anne. --Joseph A. Porcello
Herald-Journal / Herald American
Press Club President: 1975
A true newspaperman of the old school, even after Brohmann Roth became an assistant city editor and later a columnist, at heart he never forgot that he was first and foremost a reporter. He also never forgot his roots in Syracuse.
During his early days as a reporter, his byline topped some of the biggest news stories of the pre-Depression and "bathroom gin" era in Central New York. "Bro," as he was called by his friends, covered murder trials, bootlegging cases, politics and government, and wrote many human interest features.
Then and later, his snappy leads, fluent writing style and accuracy were envied -- and respected -- by both his co-workers and competitors.
Bro broke into newspaper reporting with the old Syracuse Telegram in 1924 after graduating from Syracuse University. He was paid 10 cents an inch for his news stories until, as he recalled, "they decided it was cheaper to pay me $25 a week" because of the volume of copy he turned out.
He moved to the Syracuse Herald in 1927 as a rewrite man. No reporter who gave him the information for a story ever forgot Bro?s fast-paced questions: one after another, often needed to dig out the most information a reader would want to know. Reporters working against a deadline were happy when they got Bro on the phone because his fast typing allowed them to get the full story in -- and on time.
When the Herald and the Journal merged in 1939, Bro was assigned to the federal beat. At the same time, he also began his long-running series of amusing birthday stories which quickly became one of the best-read features in the Herald-Journal. His promotion to assistant city editor in 1946 made him responsible for local and area news in the afternoon newspaper?s first edition, the deadline for which was 8 a.m. When his city desk duties allowed, Bro also helped out by rewriting, or even taking reporters? dictation over the phone.
In 1961, Bro returned to reporting as the paper?s political writer and Albany correspondent. As part of his new job, he started writing a column, "In the Know," which ran in the Sunday Herald-American. Ten years later, he left politics to start another column, "Roaming With Brohmann," which ran Monday through Friday and on Sunday.
Bro wrote about what interested him, which included almost anything and everything that the man --and woman-- on the street wanted to read about: personal notes, news tidbits, announcements, gossip and sometimes even politics and birthdays. The column quickly gained popularity throughout the Herald coverage area.
A debilitating stroke forced an end to Bro?s career in 1975. That was the year Bro was also serving as president of the Syracuse Press Club.
Bro Roth was a native of Syracuse and never wanted to live anywhere else. He grew up on Gifford street and graduated from St. Lucy?s School, then the old Travis Preparatory School, and finally, SU. When Bro died in 1980, services were held in his beloved St. Lucy?s Roman Catholic Church.
His one other passion was sailing area waters with wife Agnes ("Peg") and daughter Anne. --Joseph A. Porcello