James Leo STERLING

STERLING, BURGER, MARTIN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:46

James Leo Sterling
13 July 1889 --- 11 May 1947

Brief mention was made last week concerning the death of J. Leo Sterling in Canon City, Colo. The following tribute is from the Canon City "Record," the paper he served as business manager for many years.

James Leo Sterling
James Leo Sterling, 57, business manager of The Canon City Daily Record, known affectionately to thousands of Daily Record readers as the "fat reporter," died suddenly of a heart attack at 11:45 Sunday morning. His death at a local hospital came 30 minutes after he was stricken as he was acting as toastmaster for the annual Mother's Day breakfast at the parish hall of St. Michael's Catholic church. Mr Sterling had just risen from his place at the speaker's table, had paid a jovial and tender toast to the mothers present and then had called for the oldest mother present, to give her a corsage. Several names had been mentioned as the possible recipient of the corsage. Then suddenly, Mr. Sterling slumped forward on the table. Many in the crowd did not even notice until somebody called, "He's sick."

Dr Ken Wyatt, one of those present, administered a heart stimulant and an ambulance was summoned. Mr. Sterling was driven to the hospital and placed in an oxygen tent. He regained consciousness briefly, but passed away a short time later.

In his death, Colorado lost one of its most, able and best-known newspapermen, and Canon City one of its outstanding citizens. Canon City had been his home since August 8, 1909. He had come here from Iowa because of tuberculosis, and, like so many had regained his health in Colorado's sunshine and generous climate.

Mr. Sterling may have inwardly felt some obligation to his adopted home, for he was never too busy to help in some worthy civic, charitable and religious cause. An example of his deep sense of public-spiritedness was shown Sunday morning. He had not been well for the past week, although he had been at his office daily. He casually passed off his sickness as "a little touch of flu, or indigestion." But, he had told the men of St. Michael's parish that he would act as toastmaster And, he fulfilled his obligation. He had first attended Sunday morning services at St. Michael's church—a regular duty in which he never failed. Mr. Sterling's church ranked paramount in his thoughts and he was among the most loyal members of the congregation.

Mr. Sterling has covered virtually every big news story in this section in the last generation. He was the first newsman to enter Colorado state prison after the 1929 riot. He was one of the first to enter stricken Pueblo after the 1921 flood. He had interviewed the great and near-great, was a personal friend of governors, U. S. senators, congressmen and the others whom a newsman gets to know in his daily business. He was Canon City correspondent, for the United Press, International News Service, Associated Press and many regional newspapers and radio stations. Because of his connections, he had brought Canon City many thousands of dollars worth of publicity down thru the years.

From a community-minded standpoint, few in Canon City's history had been more active than he. It was rare indeed when he was too busy to serve on a committee, plug a worthy enterprise with publicity or work on a city drive. He was a past president and many-times director of the chamber of commerce. He was a charter member of the Lions club. Rotary club and University club. And he had served all three as their presidents. He was the first president of the Lions, after its founding 25 years ago. He was a past exalted ruler of Canon City Elks Lodge No. 610 and had served as district deputy grand exalted ruler. In 1923, he was president of the Colorado Press Association.

During the war, Mr. Sterling was chairman of the Fremont county draft board. He gave untold hours of his time to the position, which, he often laughingly said "makes the least liked man in the county."

There were, in fact, few things of a civic nature in the past generation in which he had not some part.

Mr. Sterling was born in Eagle Grove, Iowa, on July 13, 1889. Christened James Leo, he got his nickname "Pete" from the title of a book, "The Honorable Peter Sterling," which was popular about the time he came to Canon City. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Myrtle Janet Sterling, society editor of The Record; and four children James, advertising manager of The Record, who joined the staff less than a month ago after moving from Montrose; Mrs. Dorothy Burger of Glenwood Springs. Mrs. Janet Martin of Lamar, and Robert, a pre-medic student at the University, and two brothers, Harold of Eagle Grove, Iowa, and Dr. Robert R. of Pleasant Ridge, Mich.

Canon City, to which he had given much in his 38 years as a citizen Wednesday morning paid final honor to J. Leo Sterling, Dally Record newspaper executive and outstanding civic leader.

St. Michael's Catholic church, where he was a devout member and which he was serving Sunday morning when stricken with a fatal heart attack, was crowded with hundreds of friends from all parts of Fremont county and many other communities, as funeral mass was held.

His fellow workers at The Dally record attended in a body. Other organizations attending the funeral services in a group were Past Exalted Rulers club of the Elks, Rotary club, members of the Elks lodge, friends in Council, Monday reading club, Altar and Rosary society and Mother's club of St. Michael's church. Either Mr. or Mrs. Sterling held membership in all of these organizations.

Burial was made in Lakeshore cemetery, where officers of the Elks lodge conducted their ritual rites.

Eagle Grove Eagle -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
May 22, 1947

*****

Leo Sterling Dies
Word was received by H. B. Sterling, Sunday, of the death of his brother J. Leo Sterling, 58, at his home in Canon City, Colo. Mr. Sterling was stricken with a heart attack about eleven o'clock that morning and death followed a short time later. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning in Canon City and burial was there.

Eagle Grove Eagle -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
May 15, 1947