RETIRED CHANNEL 3 NEWSMAN RESPECTED AS SHARP, FAIR
August 28, 2001 | Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN)
Paul L. Barnett, retired Channel 3 newsman, died at his Midtown home Saturday morning after a long battle with lung cancer.
Barnett was 83 and a Memphis native.
He spent 18 years with Channel 3 television, serving as assignments editor and assistant news director for the last eight years before his retirement in 1984.
Close friend Ray Pohlman, who worked with Barnett from 1972 to 1984, said he was a good-natured man with great sources and a keen news sense.
''He was serious about his work,'' Pohlman said. ''He was very fair and he could get the story before anybody else could.''
Pohlman said Barnett was proud of the fact politicians and other officials phoned him with news tips long after his retirement.
Barnett graduated from Catholic High School before joining the Memphis Police Department in 1939.
He was drafted into the Army in 1941 and was in the battle for Omaha Beach and in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He received four battle stars, including a Bronze Star for heroism.
After being discharged in 1945, Barnett joined the Tennessee Highway Patrol Motorcycle Division.
Barnett went into radio news in 1954 in Russellville, Ky., and was soon news director of WJJD in Chicago.
Barnett switched to TV news in California, moving to WPLC-TV in Lake Charles, La., and later at WREC-TV in Memphis. The station later became WREG-TV.
Barnett was among the first newsmen on the scene after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered. He covered the story for several days and nights for CBS, said Pohlman.
Barnett also covered Elvis Presley's departure for and return from military duty as well as his death.
He was named Outstanding Reporter of the Year by the Memphis Bar Association and Outstanding Newsman in the State. He also received an award from the Police Association under former director Frank Holloman.
Barnett leaves a brother, Ed Barnett, of Bakersfield, Calif.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Forest Hill Funeral Home Midtown with burial in Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society.
___________________
Single, never married, per TN death index.
August 28, 2001 | Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN)
Paul L. Barnett, retired Channel 3 newsman, died at his Midtown home Saturday morning after a long battle with lung cancer.
Barnett was 83 and a Memphis native.
He spent 18 years with Channel 3 television, serving as assignments editor and assistant news director for the last eight years before his retirement in 1984.
Close friend Ray Pohlman, who worked with Barnett from 1972 to 1984, said he was a good-natured man with great sources and a keen news sense.
''He was serious about his work,'' Pohlman said. ''He was very fair and he could get the story before anybody else could.''
Pohlman said Barnett was proud of the fact politicians and other officials phoned him with news tips long after his retirement.
Barnett graduated from Catholic High School before joining the Memphis Police Department in 1939.
He was drafted into the Army in 1941 and was in the battle for Omaha Beach and in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He received four battle stars, including a Bronze Star for heroism.
After being discharged in 1945, Barnett joined the Tennessee Highway Patrol Motorcycle Division.
Barnett went into radio news in 1954 in Russellville, Ky., and was soon news director of WJJD in Chicago.
Barnett switched to TV news in California, moving to WPLC-TV in Lake Charles, La., and later at WREC-TV in Memphis. The station later became WREG-TV.
Barnett was among the first newsmen on the scene after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered. He covered the story for several days and nights for CBS, said Pohlman.
Barnett also covered Elvis Presley's departure for and return from military duty as well as his death.
He was named Outstanding Reporter of the Year by the Memphis Bar Association and Outstanding Newsman in the State. He also received an award from the Police Association under former director Frank Holloman.
Barnett leaves a brother, Ed Barnett, of Bakersfield, Calif.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Forest Hill Funeral Home Midtown with burial in Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society.
___________________
Single, never married, per TN death index.
RETIRED CHANNEL 3 NEWSMAN RESPECTED AS SHARP, FAIR
August 28, 2001 | Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN)
Paul L. Barnett, retired Channel 3 newsman, died at his Midtown home Saturday morning after a long battle with lung cancer.
Barnett was 83 and a Memphis native.
He spent 18 years with Channel 3 television, serving as assignments editor and assistant news director for the last eight years before his retirement in 1984.
Close friend Ray Pohlman, who worked with Barnett from 1972 to 1984, said he was a good-natured man with great sources and a keen news sense.
''He was serious about his work,'' Pohlman said. ''He was very fair and he could get the story before anybody else could.''
Pohlman said Barnett was proud of the fact politicians and other officials phoned him with news tips long after his retirement.
Barnett graduated from Catholic High School before joining the Memphis Police Department in 1939.
He was drafted into the Army in 1941 and was in the battle for Omaha Beach and in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He received four battle stars, including a Bronze Star for heroism.
After being discharged in 1945, Barnett joined the Tennessee Highway Patrol Motorcycle Division.
Barnett went into radio news in 1954 in Russellville, Ky., and was soon news director of WJJD in Chicago.
Barnett switched to TV news in California, moving to WPLC-TV in Lake Charles, La., and later at WREC-TV in Memphis. The station later became WREG-TV.
Barnett was among the first newsmen on the scene after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered. He covered the story for several days and nights for CBS, said Pohlman.
Barnett also covered Elvis Presley's departure for and return from military duty as well as his death.
He was named Outstanding Reporter of the Year by the Memphis Bar Association and Outstanding Newsman in the State. He also received an award from the Police Association under former director Frank Holloman.
Barnett leaves a brother, Ed Barnett, of Bakersfield, Calif.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Forest Hill Funeral Home Midtown with burial in Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society.
___________________
Single, never married, per TN death index.
August 28, 2001 | Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN)
Paul L. Barnett, retired Channel 3 newsman, died at his Midtown home Saturday morning after a long battle with lung cancer.
Barnett was 83 and a Memphis native.
He spent 18 years with Channel 3 television, serving as assignments editor and assistant news director for the last eight years before his retirement in 1984.
Close friend Ray Pohlman, who worked with Barnett from 1972 to 1984, said he was a good-natured man with great sources and a keen news sense.
''He was serious about his work,'' Pohlman said. ''He was very fair and he could get the story before anybody else could.''
Pohlman said Barnett was proud of the fact politicians and other officials phoned him with news tips long after his retirement.
Barnett graduated from Catholic High School before joining the Memphis Police Department in 1939.
He was drafted into the Army in 1941 and was in the battle for Omaha Beach and in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He received four battle stars, including a Bronze Star for heroism.
After being discharged in 1945, Barnett joined the Tennessee Highway Patrol Motorcycle Division.
Barnett went into radio news in 1954 in Russellville, Ky., and was soon news director of WJJD in Chicago.
Barnett switched to TV news in California, moving to WPLC-TV in Lake Charles, La., and later at WREC-TV in Memphis. The station later became WREG-TV.
Barnett was among the first newsmen on the scene after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered. He covered the story for several days and nights for CBS, said Pohlman.
Barnett also covered Elvis Presley's departure for and return from military duty as well as his death.
He was named Outstanding Reporter of the Year by the Memphis Bar Association and Outstanding Newsman in the State. He also received an award from the Police Association under former director Frank Holloman.
Barnett leaves a brother, Ed Barnett, of Bakersfield, Calif.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Forest Hill Funeral Home Midtown with burial in Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society.
___________________
Single, never married, per TN death index.
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