Ex-UPI reporter Harry Culver dead at 82

OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Harry Culver, an honored United Press International reporter, union leader, and World War II bomber pilot, has died in Oklahoma City at the age of 82.

Culver, whose coverage of Oklahoma government and politics was legendary, died Sunday at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. He had been suffering from Parkinson's disease.

Culver worked 35 years for UPI at Oklahoma City, most of it covering the Capitol where he had a reputation for deciphering the complexity of state finance.

"He kept them honest," said Jim Campbell, former UPI Oklahoma City bureau manager.

During his years at UPI, Culver served as the national president of the Wire Service Guild and 14 years on the International Executive Board of the Newspaper Guild, including 10 years as their chairperson.

During World War II, Culver piloted a B-17 bomber with the Army Air Corps on 33 combat missions over Germany. His bomber was shot down on one mission.

Culver received many awards and was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 1979. He received the Society of Professional Journalists Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.

Survivors include his wife, Mattie Lee Culver, two daughters, a son, and many grandchildren and great grand children.

Services will be Wednesday at Grace United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.