Shelby Scates

Posted: Monday, January 28, 2013 4:00 pm

The Messenger, January 28, 2013
The Messenger has learned of the death of Shelby Scates, 81, of Seattle, a former resident of Union City, who died Jan. 3, 2013, in Seattle.
Information about funeral services was not available.
He was a highly respected longtime political reporter and columnist for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer and was the author of three books, in addition to a memoir published in 2000.
Born in 1931 in Obion County into a family of 10 siblings, he graduated from Union City High School and headed west in his late teens, winding up in Seattle. He studied history and philosophy at the University of Washington, graduating in 1954, and then spent two years in the U.S. Army. He reported for the International News Service, United Press International, The Associated Press and The Seattle Argus before joining The Post-Intelligencer and he enjoyed one of journalism’s top honors as a 1962-63 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.
Credited with ending more than one political career, he also covered wars and presidential campaigns and was recruited by both the Washington Post and the New York Times, but preferred his adopted state.
Scates enjoyed mountain climbing, sailing and skiing.
He is survived by his longtime companion, Joan Hansen; two daughters, Jane (Scates) Meininger and Margaret Scates; and two granddaughters.