John Elgin Cranfill

John Elgin Cranfill passed away on Wednesday, February 15, in Dallas, Texas. John was born in Waco, Texas, on December 17, 1944, to Henry Lee Cranfill, Jr., and Geraldine King Cranfill. He was a graduate of LaVega High School and Baylor University and held a master's degree from the University of Southern California.

An officer in the United States Air Force after college, John served in the Pacific Command (PACAF) during the Vietnam War as Information Officer for the 1st Weather Wing. Stationed at Hickam Air Force Base from 1968 to 1971, John traveled extensively to strategic bases in countries such as the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea and Guam. He wrote numerous stories publicizing wing mission activities not only for Southeast Asia, but also for the Apollo Mission. He was also wing historian. After three years, John took up a new duty station at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois as one of the youngest Base Information Officers in the Air Force. His many stories in the base newspaper about the communities surrounding the base and his involvement in community service with many of them, such as East St. Louis, fostered closer relationships between the civilian and military populations.

When he was honorably discharged in 1972, John came to Dallas as a reporter for The Dallas Morning News. He began in Business News as the first Energy Editor for the paper. John said of this new job and new position, that he and Business Editor Al Altwegg together "developed the idea of having an energy writer and then an energy editor". John praised Altwegg for creating an energy beat with a "consumer point of view". The energy beat led him to Venezuela, Scotland, Canada and other oil-producing countries, offering him an understanding of international energy concerns and challenges. Importantly, John was a nominated finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Always proud to have been a nominated finalist for the Pulitzer, John felt he was a winner to have come in second.

Later, John became Assistant Managing Editor of the paper, part of a management team that saw the News win its first Pulitzer Prize in 1991. In addition, John was instrumental in updating the Open Records Act, bringing it into the digital age. He was also the Chairman of the Elections Advisory Committee to the Secretary of State, a position he held for twenty-five years. As former Secretary of State David Dean says, "John Cranfill served the State of Texas with great distinction as the Chair of the Secretary of State's Election Center tabulation process, beginning in 1982 and serving until 2007". John ensured that "election results were tabulated by the state of Texas' SOS accurately, quickly, fairly and transparently". That meant being in Austin at election time, which John dearly loved.

As journalism went digital, John became founding Managing Director of dallasnews.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">dallasnews.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">dallasnews.com, the paper's first online incarnation. Once again a pioneer in journalism, he made headlines himself in 1997 after breaking the story on dallasnews.com that Timothy McVeigh had confessed to his role in the Oklahoma City bombing, beating the print edition by seven hours, the first time a major news story was broken online first and in print later. The Independent (UK) wrote that with that the dallasnews.com story "A tremor ran through the American media...". John was quoted as saying, "I guess by now the whole world knows we posted the Timothy McVeigh story to the Web deliberately on Friday, February 28, at 3:15 p.m. CST..."

Retiring from The Dallas Morning News after thirty-two years, John went on to serve as senior public policy consultant with Dean International Inc., working on numerous multimodal transportation projects involving freight, rail, highway, aviation and maritime transportation.

John was a member of The Church of the Incarnation; a board member of Dallas Challenge, a board member of both the Dean Learning Center and the Dean Foundation for over four decades. His work with the Dean Foundation led him into numerous long-term collaborations with many of the finest educational institutions in Texas and New York City. He worked diligently to instill a life-long commitment of service to the community.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Mira Potts Cranfill, and his beloved daughter, Jennifer Cranfill. He is predeceased by his parents, his sister Carol Cranfill Corley and his brother Charles Dale Cranfill.

A native Texan, John loved Texas history and held a special fondness for the town his family founded in 1851, Cranfills Gap in Bosque County. An Eagle Scout, he had a deep connection to the natural world and was always happiest out of doors. Keeping with his abiding respect for and awe of that world, donations may be made to Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation. Visitation will be Thursday, February 23, from 5:00-7:00 PM, at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home on Northwest Highway. John's memorial service will be in April, date to be announced.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Cranfill family.