Spring Break
Former journalism head brought innovation to A&M
By: Stacy Edwards
Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: News
The 1960s were filled with events of radical movements, civil liberties and innovative thinking, and Texas A&M was no different. It was during this time that C.J. "Skip" Leabo came to A&M and radically altered the journalism program.
On Saturday, Leabo died of a stroke at the age of 81. Leabo was the head of the Department of Journalism at Texas A&M from 1967 to 1975, and continued as a professor until his 1987 retirement.
Leabo was born in Excelsior Springs, Mo., and enlisted in 1926 in the U.S. Navy. After service, he studied at the University of California, Berkeley for two years.
Leabo's passion for journalism began in the late 1940s, when he became an editor for the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat and continued into the 1950s, when he worked for The Associated Press as an overseas cable editor.
After marring Kathleen Kildow in 1955, the couple had one son, Peter Leabo, and two daughters, Andrea Martinez and Kristin Light.
In the years following, Leabo worked for The AP in Sacramento, The AP in New York, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press at the University of Minnesota, where he completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism.
In 1967, A&M President Earl Rudder brought Leabo to the University to restructure the journalism program.
Bob Rogers, a longtime friend of Leabo and another former journalism department head, praised Leabo's achievements at Texas A&M.
"He really created the journalism department," Rogers said. "It was barely existing and he brought it up to national accreditation standards. He oversaw its great growth."
Howard Eilers, who teaches photography in the architecture college, was hired by Leabo in 1969.
"He's probably the best boss I ever had," Eilers said. "Being a photographer, we saw eye to eye, we could communicate with each other."
Eilers and Leabo shared a bond beyond their jobs at A&M.
"We both loved to cook, we were bread bakers, so we would end up bringing things we baked to the office and trading recipies," he said.
On Saturday, Leabo died of a stroke at the age of 81. Leabo was the head of the Department of Journalism at Texas A&M from 1967 to 1975, and continued as a professor until his 1987 retirement.
Leabo was born in Excelsior Springs, Mo., and enlisted in 1926 in the U.S. Navy. After service, he studied at the University of California, Berkeley for two years.
Leabo's passion for journalism began in the late 1940s, when he became an editor for the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat and continued into the 1950s, when he worked for The Associated Press as an overseas cable editor.
After marring Kathleen Kildow in 1955, the couple had one son, Peter Leabo, and two daughters, Andrea Martinez and Kristin Light.
In the years following, Leabo worked for The AP in Sacramento, The AP in New York, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press at the University of Minnesota, where he completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism.
In 1967, A&M President Earl Rudder brought Leabo to the University to restructure the journalism program.
Bob Rogers, a longtime friend of Leabo and another former journalism department head, praised Leabo's achievements at Texas A&M.
"He really created the journalism department," Rogers said. "It was barely existing and he brought it up to national accreditation standards. He oversaw its great growth."
Howard Eilers, who teaches photography in the architecture college, was hired by Leabo in 1969.
"He's probably the best boss I ever had," Eilers said. "Being a photographer, we saw eye to eye, we could communicate with each other."
Eilers and Leabo shared a bond beyond their jobs at A&M.
"We both loved to cook, we were bread bakers, so we would end up bringing things we baked to the office and trading recipies," he said.
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