AP Photographer Lou Krasky -- A Remembrance

CORRECTS that Lou joined AP in 1968, not 1986.

I'm sad to report today that longtime AP photographer Lou Krasky has died at 86.

Services are Tuesday noon at Shives Funeral Home on Trenholm.

https://www.shivesfuneralhome.com/m/obituaries/Louis-Krasky/MemorialEvents

Lou joined the Columbia, SC, bureau in 1968 and retired in 2004. For nine years as news editor I had the pleasure -- no, the honor -- of working with "Krasky" (a bit of affectionate shorthand from our shared NY City upbringing -- it seems sadly appropriate that this is where I am writing this today).

Lou knew everyone and was warmly greated by governors, senators, and pols of all stripes when he showed up. He also was a journalist in the truest sense with an eye for who was where and what was out of place. The result was that he saved all our bacon more than a few times by helping us grab a tough interview or sidling over and whispering, "Hey, you may want to ..."

He was a master at getting the tough shot and had a list of stringers and a rapport with them and member photographers that any photo agency would have killed for.

He defined the word "dependable." Whether it was coverage of a routine news conference or of Susan Smith; Shannon Faulkner, the first woman at the Citadel; the killing of Michael Jordan's father; the lowering of the Confederate flag at the Statehouse; or numerous hurricanes, Lou always had our backs. I knew I could concentrate on overall coverage and Lou would be transmitting or overseeing transmission of the exactly right photo at the exactly right time.

And, yes, he took pity on me by letting me golf with him.

As former AP colleague Jeffrey Collins said when he texted me the news, "They stopped making them like Lou."

Here is something I wrote when Lou retired in 2004.

https://commonsensej.blogspot.com/2004/10/krasky-has-left-building.html