Published on July 15, 2024 by Diamond Nunnally  
Harper Harwell and Hoyt Harwell

When Harper Harwell ’24 applied to be editor-in-chief of the Samford Crimson, she had no idea she would be continuing the legacy set by a beloved family member. It wasn’t until she expressed her interest in the position to her 93-year-old grandfather, Hoyt Harwell ’53, that she discovered he also served as editor-in-chief of the student-led publication 70 years prior.

During their conversation, Hoyt shared with Harper for the first time a collection of old

Samford Crimson issues he had overseen as editor-in-chief. “It was really special to see that and then know that when I applied to be editor-in-chief, I would be following in his footsteps,” she said.

Hoyt is a journalism icon in Birmingham. While at Samford, he started as a teletype

operator with the Associated Press (AP), leading to a 40-year career with the media company. After graduating, he reported in Mobile, Atlanta and then led the AP Birmingham station from 1966 until his retirement in 1992.

Throughout his tenure, he covered pivotal moments in history, from the Civil Rights Movement and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing to the tumultuous events of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. A better half of his career was also devoted to covering major sports, solidifying his status as one of the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 50 legends, named in 2022.

“You never knew what was going to happen,” Hoyt said in response to a question about dedicating his life to journalism. “In most jobs, it’s routine. But I’d go to work in the morning and not have any idea what kind of story might develop.”

“Knowing all of the amazing journalistic work he did in his career is impressive and breathtaking,” Harper said. “He inspires me. I hope I’m half the journalist he was at my age.”

After graduating from Samford in April, Harper accepted a job as a tech, innovation and start-ups reporter with the Birmingham Business Journal.

“I’m so proud of her,” Hoyt said. “I did not try to influence her in that direction except give her my old typewriter, but it’s good to see somebody else who appreciates language and words—and the Samford Crimson.”

In Memoriam: In June, after this story was written, Hoyt Harwell died at the age of 93 years old.

This story was first published in the summer 2024 issue of Seasons magazine.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.