David J. Hurlbert, managing editor of the Arizona Capitol Times from 1993 until his retirement in 2001, died Feb. 19. He was 62. He leaves his wife Linda, three children, two grandchildren, an extended family, and an enviable journalistic reputation.

“Dave was a classic newsman and a consummate professional,” Times publisher Ned Creighton said. “We felt very lucky to have someone with his skill and background running our newsroom. When he wrote or edited a story, you could take it to the bank.”

Dave Hurlbert was a journalist all his life, starting at KOY radio and going on to 28 years with United Press International. He covered the Legislature and state government for UPI for years before he came to the Times as a reporter in 1992 and quickly moved up to the editorship. As managing editor he insisted on detailed, solid, accurate stories. The knowledge of Arizona political history he acquired and developed in his years of reporting on state government enabled him to add insight and information that greatly improved the stories he handled.

He was brought to Arizona from Ohio as an infant, so he was all but a native, and his job gave him a wide acquaintance in the state. He was president of the Phoenix Press Box Association and, as a graduate of Arizona State University, a great fan of ASU sports, a fact he happily advertised with a large ASU sign on his office wall and a wide smile when the Sun Devils won a big game. He was a serious and inventive gardener and stamp collector and an expert on country and bluegrass music. He would not hear a word suggesting anything less than immortality for a personal musical hero, the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe.

His time was too short. We miss him.