Background
Nelson, Jack was born on October 11, 1929 in Talladega, Alabama, United States. Son of Howard Alonzo and Barbara Lena (O'Donnell) Nelson.
Nelson, Jack was born on October 11, 1929 in Talladega, Alabama, United States. Son of Howard Alonzo and Barbara Lena (O'Donnell) Nelson.
He moved with his family to Georgia and eventually to Biloxi, Mississippi, where he graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1947.
Born in Talladega, Alabama, Nelson"s father ran a fruit store during the Great Depression. After graduating from high school Nelson began his journalism career with the Biloxi Daily Herald. There he earned the nickname "Scoop" for his aggressive reporting.
He then worked for the United States. Army writing press releases before taking a job with the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 1952.
He joined the in 1965 and led its Washington, District of Columbia bureau for 21 years after being named bureau chief in 1975. He led the paper"s coverage at the time of the Watergate scandal.
In 1970 Nelson wrote a story about how the Federal Bureau of Investigation and police in Meridian, Mississippi shot two Ku Klux Klan members in a sting bankrolled by the local Jewish community. One of the Klan members, a woman, died in the ambush.
The head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, J. Edgar Hoover, tried to kill the story, which appeared on Page One, by smearing Nelson, falsely, as an alcoholic.
Nelson played an important role in uncovering the truth about the Orangeburg Massacre. He discussed current events on television and radio news shows. Jack Nelson died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Bethesda, Maryland on October 21, 2009, aged 80.
With Army of the United States, 1951-1952. Member The Gridiron Club.
Married Virginia Dare Dickinson, August 4, 1951 (divorced November 1974). Children: Karen Dare, John Michael, Steven Howard. Married Barbara Joan Matusow, December 7, 1974.