Bob “Scoop” Phillips passed away January 12, 2025 at age 91.

Phillips retired from WDTN-TV in 2008 after working 51 years for the station.

On the day Phillips retired in 2008 at age 75, Skip Peterson was talking with him on the phone and “Scoop” was covering a traffic accident. Peterson said, “he won’t put the camera down until the 5 pm newscast is on the air.”

Phillips was the first ONPA Television Photographer of the Year for his work in 1976.

Link to WDTN-TV tribute 

Full obituary

The photo community in Ohio awoke Sunday to hear the shocking news that longtime Cleveland sports photographer Ron Schwane had passed away suddenly. Schwane had worked for many years at the Medina Gazette and freelanced for AP, Getty and a host of other clients.

Many of us worked alongside Schwane at Cleveland professional sporting events, a place where many friendships had formed over the years. Schwane was the sort of individual that easily made friends and the reason many are mourning his loss today.

One of those is Aaron Josefczyk who posted on social media – Ron was my very first friend when I moved to Medina 31 years ago, he helped me figure my way around and learn the photography job as we were both rookies at the time. Ron brought me into the Medina Gazette as a sports photographer in 1999 and we were both there until this day. Ron also gave me my connection with Reuters and the late legend Ron Kuntz, without Ron’s help it is hard to tell where my career would have taken me. I am tore up, we lost an amazing photographer and friend yesterday.

Schwane’s passing has left Medina County high schools in shock as well. Many of us saw his images from professional sports assignments, but there were many more high school and equestrian events that he covered over the years. 

There are no calling hours or funeral service, but a celebration of life, probably in late June, is in the works.

The Cleveland Guardians had a scoreboard tribute and a moment of silence prior to the team’s game Monday agains the New York Mets in his honor.

Link to a tribute column in the Medina Gaztee by Rick Nolan

The 73rd edition of the ONPA convention and seminar is now in the history books. While previous conferences during the golden ages were larger, the 73rd accomplished what those other larger gatherings always did. The event always provides a needed boost when you’re worn down from the daily grind and can use a little more fuel in the tank when you are continually being asked to do more with less. 

This year Terry Clark was charged with the job of refilling the tanks. Clark’s presentation 50 Years / 50 Photographs provided just the right octane. His assignments during his midwest-based career weren’t much different than those of his audience. 

He was taught to work harder than every other person in the business and it was a lesson plan that he carried out well during his 50-year career, which began with a 4 by 5. These days he carries a Sony mirrorless. Needless to say there’s a little less grain in his pictures these days.

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