Legendary Journalist Ed Bradley To Be Honored With West Philly Mural
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A favorite Philadelphia son who died in 2006 after a battle with leukemia is now being honored in a way that's uniquely Philadelphian.
The Mural Arts Program is working on a new project to honor legendary African American journalist Ed Bradley. He was honored at St. Ignatius School in West Philadelphia, where he went as a young boy.
"It's an incredibly humbling and touching thing," said Bradley's widow Patricia Blanchet.
Photos: Mural Arts Philadelphia Honors CBS News Journalist Ed Bradley
She says having this mural is an amazing way to preserve her late husband's legacy.
"Hopefully they'll have a glimpse of just how much he accomplished," said Blanchet.
It was LeRoy McCarthy's idea to have a mural for Bradley depicting some of the brightest moments in his career. Like Bradley, McCarthy graduated from Cheyney University.
As a renowned journalist Bradley spoke at McCarthy's graduation.
The young college student was so impressed by the reporter that years later he took his idea of a mural to the Mural Arts Philadelphia program.
"Hopefully this will inspire students, inspire the community, inspire Philadelphia," said McCarthy. "One of the greats of Philadelphia to be honored in this manner is great."
A journalist whose career began at Philadelphia radio station WDAS, it wasn't long before Bradley stood in front of a national audience as a network reporter, anchor and correspondent on "60 Minutes." For 26 years Bradley worked as a correspondent on "60 Minutes," where he received dozens of the most prestigious awards in journalism.
"He was a real beacon for change and justice and truth and we're hoping to remind people about those tenets," said Blanchet.
A reminder already heard loud and clear by a future journalist at St. Ignatius.
"I feel really proud and inspired and he came from the same school that I go to," said seventh-grader Kaylah McGuffie. "I feel like I can do it, too, and maybe one day have my own mural."
Bradley's mural -- done by lead artist Ernel Martinez -- will be dedicated this fall in West Philadelphia.
"He did a great job teasing out through the ages and just giving us a glimpse of the breadth and scope and impact of the stories that Ed did," said Blanchet.
The mural project is supported by CBS Corporation and the Ed Bradley Family Foundation.
CBS3 and the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists are also partners in the project.
