Walter Everett

Walter Everett, 95, an outstanding newspaperman and former director of the American Press Institute, died November 28 at home, in Corey Lane, Middletown after a long illness.He was associated for 26 years with the Institute, a non-profit educational center whose seminars and workshops are devoted to the improvement of newspapers and the people who produce them. It was affiliated with Columbia University and located on the Manhattan campus from 1946-1974 when he was instrumental in having it moved to larger facilities in the Washington, D.C. area.Earlier Mr. Everett worked for 15 years on daily newspapers, beginning as a reporter on the ?Providence Journal? in 1933, and becoming city editor for eight years. He also worked on the news staff of the ?Salt Lake Tribune?, Salt Lake City, Utah, and as city editor of ?Greenwich Time? in Connecticut.Born in Newark, N.J., April 3, 1910, he was the son of Russell M. and Laura Bentley Everett. He studied at the University of Missouri and George Washington University before entering the School of Journalism at Columbia where he received his B.S. degree in 1933.During the time he was on the API he was given leave of absence to serve on the staff of President Truman?s International Development Board, headed by Nelson Rockefeller. He was active in planning and conducting special seminars for foreign journalists held in the United States by the Institute under grants from the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations. In this connection he traveled extensively in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America studying newspaper operations, meeting with editors and publishers.In recognition of his service to Latin American journalism and to inter-American friendship, Mr. Everett received a Maria Moors Cabot Award from the Trustees of Columbia University at a Convocation in 1975. That same year he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Providence Journal Company where he served for five years. In 1988 the newspaper provided the major funding for a Fellowship in his name at the American Press Institute. He was a member of the Newport Art Museum, the Newport Historical Society, the Redwood Library, and Quindecim. He was active for many years as a volunteer for the Potter Animal Shelter.He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Beth Lindsey Everett, formerly of San Antonio, Texas; a daughter by a previous marriage, Mrs. Jenna Danielle Eaton of Sisters, Oregon; two nephews; Russell Everett of South Country and Franklin Everett of Newport.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Potter League for Animals PO Box 412 Newport, RI 02840 or to the Aquidneck Land Trust 790 Aquidneck Avenue Middletown, RI 02842.