Gary G. Yerkey facts for kids
Gary G. Yerkey was born in Chicago, USA. He is an American writer and journalist. He lives in Washington, D.C. He writes for The Christian Science Monitor and other news publications.
Gary Yerkey's Journey as a Journalist
Gary Yerkey studied philosophy at Ripon College. Later, he continued his studies at the American University of Beirut. He spent over ten years living in Europe and the Middle East. During this time, he worked as a reporter.
He reported for big news groups like Time Life, ABC News, and The Christian Science Monitor. He also wrote for the International Herald Tribune. Gary was a staff reporter for Bloomberg BNA. He covered news about the U.S. Congress and the President's office.
Gary has reported from many countries. These include India, China, Canada, and Poland. He has interviewed many interesting people. These include famous jazz drummer Art Taylor. He also spoke with civil rights movement leader John Lewis. Gary even interviewed Mexican poet and environmental activist Homero Aridjis. Before becoming a journalist, he served in the United States Air Force. He was also a pilot.
Awards and Recognition
In 2015, Gary Yerkey received a very special award. It was the Congressional Gold Medal. This is the highest award a civilian can get in the United States. He received it for his part in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. These marches were important events in the Civil Rights Movement. They were led by John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr..
In 2024, Gary was honored by his old college. Ripon College gave him a Distinguished Alumni Citation. This award celebrates former students who have done great things.
Books Written by Gary Yerkey
Gary Yerkey has written several books. Many of his books are biographies. These tell the life stories of interesting people. Other books are about important historical events.
- Still Time to Live: A Biography of Jack Belden, ISBN: 0615458882
- South to Selma: 'Outside Agitators' and the Civil Rights March that Changed America, ISBN: 1484868951
- Dying for the News: Honoring Tom Treanor and the Other Reporters Killed Covering World War II, ISBN: 1517205174
- A Pilot's Pilot: Gen. Caleb V. Haynes and the Rise of American Air Power, 1917–1944, ISBN: 1984121480
- A Fever in My Blood: The American Life and Tragic Death of Darrell Berrigan, ISBN: 1091536880
- The Two Wars of Bruce C. Hopper: From WW I Bomber Pilot to WW II Spy, ISBN: 9798705570287
- Troublemakers: On the March for Civil Rights From Selma to Black Power, ISBN: 9798714083310
- He's Coming to Start Riots: On the Road to Black Power with 'The Reverend' Willie Ricks, ISBN: 9781530507566
- When the Yanks Came to Sweden: How Thousands of American Airmen, Spies and Diplomats Changed a 'Neutral' Nation in World War II, ISBN: 979-8322297161
