Radford Sallee

Radford Wharton Sallee, U.S. Marine veteran, career journalist, and doting father, passed away after a lengthy illness July 5 at the age of 79. Born in Owensboro, KY, on June 20, 1941, Rad attended Vanderbilt University before serving four years in the Marines, rising to the rank of lance corporal. He graduated from Western Kentucky State College with a degree in economics, earning a fellowship to Rice University. Despite making the Dean’s List with a 4.0 grade point average, Rad decided to pursue a different career path and landed a reporting position at the Pasadena Citizen. His editor eventually encouraged him to move on to the Houston Chronicle where he became a mainstay of the newsroom. Over the years, he worked as a general assignment reporter, covered courts, government, transportation and other beats as well as serving as an assistant city editor. He retired in 2008 after 36 years. Rad was an inveterate traveler, vacationing throughout the United States and parts of Europe, often with his daughter, Mary, and other relatives. A voracious reader, Rad also loved all types of music and sports, especially basketball and his weekly pickup game at a neighborhood court. In retirement, he took West Coast Swing and Tango lessons, performing with others several times at Miller Outdoor Theatre. He also volunteered for several years as a dance partner for members of the Houston area Parkinson Society. Rad is survived by his daughter, Mary Sallee Preston; son-in-law, George Preston; and grandson, Henry Preston, all of Austin, TX; his brother, Charles Sallee of Maryville, TN; nephew, Greg, of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN; and niece, Rachel Sallee of Maryville, TN.