‘One Hell of a News Day’

I returned to work on Monday, August 27, determined to expand my credentials as a newsroom leader without overstepping Angus or Henry. Then, fifteen15 days later, on September 11, the unthinkable happened. It began at 7:46 a.m. Memphis time when American Airlines Flight 11 slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center between the 93rd and 99th floors. At that moment, I was leaving home to take my daughter, Mari-Elizabeth, a first grader, to Willow Oaks Elementary School. She and I normally listened to lighthearted R&B music on the way to school. She was particularly fond of “Shining Star,” by Earth, Wind and Fire.

In the school parking lot, Mari had just stepped out of the car when David Boyd, a member of the CA sports department staff, called my company-issued cell phone to alert me of what he believed was an accident at the World Trade Center involving a small plane. I then switched my car radio to a news channel.

As a reporter was providing details of the crash into the north tower, he was interrupted by news of a second passenger jet, American Airlines Flight 175, hitting the Trade Center’s south tower. Instantly, it became clear. This was no accident. This was a terrorist attack on America. Instead of going to my regular breakfast spot, I drove to Elaine’s marketing office on Park Avenue near the University of Memphis. Mere seconds before arriving, I heard a report of a third plane, Flight 77, slamming into the Pentagon.

Elaine and her assistant, Dolores Asberry, were busy working when I rushed in with the alarming news. We then switched on the office TV to get more details. After a few minutes, I left and drove directly to the paper. This was going to be one hell of a news day. Before I got there, news of a fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, crashing in a field in Pennsylvania came across my radio. And my emotions were indescribable. Angus arrived at about the same time as I did. Henry was already there. Reporters, editors, photographers and support staff all came in early to begin working on the biggest story of our professional lives. Angus convened an immediate news meeting. It was one of several we would have throughout the day. He took charge of the coverage like the veteran editor we all knew him to be.

The paper’s still fledgling website, gomemphis.com, reported the breaking news of the attack within minutes of the first plane hitting the North Tower, then provided updates throughout the day. Every editorial department at the paper got involved: metro, features, business, photography, sports, graphic arts and, of course, the copy and design desks. More than 30 reporters, columnists, editorial writers and photographers contributed to the first day’s coverage.

At around 1 p.m., my emotions got the best of me. I had watched both trade center towers collapse to the ground. And reality set in that thousands of Americans were dead from vicious acts of terrorism. About an hour earlier, we learned that several churches and other houses of worship were opening their doors for private prayer and meditation. So I left the building and drove to Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church a mile or so from the paper.

I walked in and sat in a pew near the back. A few other people were scattered around the large sanctuary. I spoke to no one. I just sat quietly praying and reflecting. Journalism had given me mostly joy for more than 30 years. But not on this day. And I knew America’s way of life would never be the same.

After about 20 minutes at The Blvd., I grabbed a sandwich and headed back to the paper. Our coverage plans included about a dozen extra pages for local, national and international stories, photographs and graphics. Editorial cartoonist Bill Day produced a poignant illustration depicting the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack alongside that day’s attacks at the Pentagon and in New York with the Statue of Liberty hanging her head in despair.

Our front page carried the gigantic headline, “EVIL ACTS,” based on a quote from President George W. Bush. Page two became a special editorial page featuring Day’s cartoon and an editorial written by editorial page editor David Kushma in which he declared, “American is under siege. War has arrived on our doorstep, and our lives have changed indelibly.”

On page three, we published a controversial photo of a man falling to his death from one of the towers. The photo elicited lots of conversation during our afternoon news meeting. But virtually everyone in the room agreed that the image expressed the horror of what happened without being overly graphic. Plus, it was not on the front page.

In the days that followed, we continued to report details of the attacks and their effect on our airport, our economy, education, local government, sporting events and on FedEx, the city’s largest private employer. Editorial writers and columnists continued to weigh in on how 9/11 created uncertainty in the days, weeks and months ahead. And Angus was noticeably more engaged with the daily paper.

Before the attacks, he was absent from most news meetings, leaving day-to-day decisions to Henry and me. Now, he was again the decision-maker and newsroom booster. I put my conversation with Mike Phillips, along with thoughts of succeeding Angus, aside and did all I could to support our newsroom’s gallant effort to tell the story of 9/11.

Excerpted from Newsman: The Road from Route 2 Box 9 by Otis Sanford, forthcoming in June from Sartoris Literary Group. Used with permission. Copyright © 2026. All rights reserved.