Photography Legend Robert E. Gilka, 96

Photography Legend Robert E. Gilka, 96

Robert E. Gilka, a newspaper photographer and editor who was a mentor to legions of photographers and who was the director of photography for National Geographic Magazine for more than 27 years, died today.

via NPPA: https://nppa.org/news/photography-legend-robert-e-gilka-96

The man who was a legend in American photographic circles started his career as a news and sports reporter and general assignment photographer at a paper in Zanesville, OH, after graduating from Marquette University in 1939 with a journalism degree. He met and married his wife Janet at the paper, where she was a reporter in 1941. Gilka served in the Army’s Signal Corps and rose to the rank of Captain.