Inductee Details
< BackJohn A. "Jack" White, III
(1942-2005) ~ Inducted 2008Jack White (1942-2005), a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter known for his investigative skills, began his long and distinguished career at the Newport Daily News in 1969. He then became a member of the Providence Journal's reporting staff where he exposed President Nixon's underpayment of income taxes. His articles prompted Nixon to utter his infamous line, “I am not a crook,” and caused the president to pay $432,787.13 plus interest in back taxes. For his work on that story Jack was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism.
White worked at the Cape Cod Times from 1981 to 1984 as a columnist and reporter before moving to television news in 1984. He continued to be recognized by his peers winning several Emmys for his coverage of the fugitive banker Joe Mollicone and for his investigation of several Providence officials who were violating the city's residency requirements.
Jack was well-respected by his colleagues in the news business and by the newsmakers themselves. For several years he hosted the weekly program “Newsmakers” on WPRI-Channel 12 and interviewed virtually everyone who made headlines.
Jack had many outside interests especially as an ardent Red Sox fan and as a fishing enthusiast, but his top priority in life was his loving family. He was the son of Margaret C. (Dougherty) White and John A. White, II, a noted labor leader of Local 57 Operating Engineers who organized a nationally-prominent fast-pitch softball team in the 1960s. Jack is survived by his wife Elizabeth A. (Finnerty) White, three sons, John A., IV, Patrick, and Timothy, and a daughter, Elizabeth.
Prior to this posthumous induction to the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, Jack was selected a member of the Pawtucket Hall of Fame. He passed away at his home in Barnstable, Massachusetts on October 12, 2005 at the age of sixty-three.
See more inductees in:
- Literature / Writers / Newspapers
- TV & Radio
Browse through our collection of 600+ amazing Rhode Islanders:
Search by Name or Keyword:
Area of Accomplishment:
African Americans | Agriculture / Farming | Architects & Designers | Artists & Painters | Banking / Finance | Business / Entrepreneurs | Civic Leaders | Civil Engineer | Civil Rights / Abolitionists | Craftsmen | Criminals / Rogues | Dance | Econonomics / Theory | Education & Universities | Entertainment Development | Explorers & Adventurers | Famous RI Families | Food / Culinary | Founders of Rhode Island | Government & Politics | Historians/Historical Accounts, Preservation | Immigrants: Chinese | Immigrants: Irish | Immigrants: Portuguese | Industry - General | Industry - Jewelry | Industry - Maritime | Industry - Textiles | Inventors & Inventions | Labor / Unions | Law / Legal Pioneers | Literature / Writers / Newspapers | Medicine & Health Care | Military | Music (Singers, Composers) | Native Americans | Olympic Athletes | Philanthropists | Religion & Churches | Retail Pioneers | Sports - Baseball | Sports - Basketball | Sports - Football | Sports - Golf | Sports - Hockey | Sports - Other | Technology & Science | Theater | TV & Radio | Women |