In Memoriam: Edward Hotaling

On June 3, 2013, the Washington – Mid Atlantic Local suffered a great loss of one of its own: Edward Hotaling, a SAG-AFTRA member and shop steward of Channel 4 for many years. He was 75 years old.

Hotaling was born on Oct. 16, 1937, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He went on to earn a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota, after earning his bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University. He worked on the Paris edition of the New York Herald Tribune, as well as at CBS News, before becoming a reporter at WRC-TV here in Washington, D.C. in 1977. He is best known for his work on uncovering little-known African American history, such as the contributions slaves made in the building of the White House and the Capitol Building. One of his most notorious interviews was with Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder in 1988, in which Snyder made racially charged comments about African-American athletes, ultimately leading to his dismissal as a CBS sports commentator. Hotaling also wrote several books about the history of horse racing.

Edward Hotaling was an exemplary journalist and SAG-AFTRA member, and will be greatly missed. Our deepest condolences go to his family and friends.

This item was originally featured in the July 2013 local newsletter.