Dick Youngblood was known for his folksy writing style, fascination with entrepreneurs and for treating new colleagues to a "Jucy Lucy" cheeseburger.
Youngblood, a longtime business columnist and editor for the Star Tribune, wrote up to three columns weekly from 1983 until his retirement in 1998. He wrote a weekly freelance column until 2011.
He relished the hustle of the newsroom. Depending upon his stress level and proximity to deadline, he could range from "endearing to irascible," said his son.
"In the same minute," quipped Kent Youngblood, a Star Tribune sportswriter. "He loved writing that column."
Youngblood died Oct. 23. He was 85.
"He also taught a journalism course at the University of St. Thomas for years," his son said. "I remember him grading stories with a black felt pen. He would really slash some of them. I remember thinking 'I'm glad I'm not in his class.' He also mentored a lot of students."
Larry Werner succeeded Youngblood as business editor in 1983.
"Dick was passionate about small business, and that came through in his writing and choice of topics," Werner said. "What he disliked most about managing was meetings. As I would walk past on my way to the daily news huddle, he would fold his hands, look heavenward and say, 'Thank you, God.' "