Kenneth Eskey, 87, former Speakers Committee chairman dies

National Press Club Silver Owl Kenneth Eskey died Wednesday in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Ken was once chairman of the NPC Speakers Committee, and according to the death notice his family placed in The Washington Post on Saturday, he helped arrange 200 newsmaker events from 1997 through 1999. He joined the Club on Oct. 1, 1984.

Eskey, 87, was an avid tennis player at courts near his home in Bethesda. Before his retirement, he spent 26 years at the Scripps Howard News Service office in Washington as copy editor, reporter, editorial writer and columnist.

A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, he served in the Navy during the Korean War, was president of the Pittsburgh Press Club and president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists while working for the Pittsburgh Press.

Private services were held in Hanover on Thursday. An online memorial is posted at www.rand-wilson.com

Ken appeared on C-SPAN a number of times, including this Club luncheon event from April 1998.