Behind the news...

An occasional column about the people behind the Lake Barcroft Newsletter.

 

              Al Cromley turns 81 on Apr. 11, with 47 years as a newsman behind him, but he's still having "lots of fun" as an LBA newsletter reporter. He writes a column about the LakeLink, covers the Woman's Club and does general assignments.

              Al and his wife, Marian, have lived on Stoneybrae Drive since 1964. They have three grown children. Al came to Washington in 1953 as the one-man bureau of the Daily Oklahoman. In 1987, he moved to part-time status as senior correspondent and retired in 1996.

              Al has been president of the National Press Club (1968) and president of the Gridiron Club (1978), which spoofs the political establishment at an annual dinner.

              Over the years, Al has been a prolific writer of songs for the show, prompting Washington Post columnist David Broder to describe him as "the bard of the Gridiron."

              "I wasn't sure whether that was a nice word," Cromley chuckled. "I had to go look it up."

 

                                                                                 -- Frank Aukofer, Barcroft News Staff