Forrest “Frosty” Landon has retired… again. He first stepped down as executive editor of the Roanoke Times (where, among his other misdeeds, he helped shape me into a journalist), only to join in launching the Virginia Coalition for Open Government in 1996. There, in the words of the Sunday Roanoke Times, he “led a crusade against government secrecy on behalf of all Virginians for a decade.”
Transparency in government once was the concern mainly of journalists and first amendment lawyers. But the rise of the blogosphere, which engages hundreds of citizen-reporters, has created a new constituency for openness. Unknown to many bloggers, Frosty and the Coalition labored tirelessly behind the scenes to halt the erosion of the Freedom of Information Act, making it one of those indispensable organizations, like the Virginia Public Access Project, that keep government honest and accountable in Virginia. (Please note who supports the Coalition — the mainstream media. We bloggers depend upon the MSM for more than news reporting.)
Those who know Frosty will always appreciate his good cheer, his self-deprecating humor, his dedication to his craft and his zeal for transparency. Those who don’t know him would miss him, too, if they knew all that he has contributed. Frosty, thank you for a job well done. We will miss you, and hope you don’t stray too far when you enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
