UM Silver Em Award Recipient Bert Case Has Passed Away

Photo courtesy Facebook/ Bert Case Fan Club

This afternoon, a beloved Mississippian newsman Bert Case has passed away at the VA Medical Center in Jackson after a lengthy hospitalization since September 1.

U.S. Senator for Mississippi, Roger Wicker released a statement from Washington D.C. about Case’s passing just moments ago.

“Bert Case always kept it interesting. He had a way of connecting to the viewer with just enough edge, just enough humor and just enough pizazz,” Senator Wicker said. “We are not likely to see another like him anytime soon- a true Mississippi classic!”

Case began his journalistic adventure in Oxford. He worked in radio broadcasting in Oxford in 1957 as a radio jockey for Ole Miss. Case later graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1962.

Soon after graduation, Case led WJTV as news director from 1965 until 1970. Then he worked with 16 WAPT from 1970 until 1974. Next, Case moved to WLBT in 1974. Case then returned to 16 WAPT where he finished his career.

Case is the only broadcaster to be awarded The University of Mississippi’s Silver Em Award in 2001, the highest journalistic award from the university.

Countless Mississippians have felt the loss of his passing away.

Burt Case was the best broadcast newsman in Mississippi during my career. Nobody equaled his ability and determination to the story.  Burt was a legend, and an great example for journalism students at Ole Miss. He is being honored by the creation of the Burt Case Broadcast Journalism Scholarship at Ole Miss and WLBT TV, the Jackson station where he worked for 40 years, is establishing a summer internship in his honor for a broadcasting student from Ole Miss.

-Dr. Ed Meek, former assistant vice chancellor of public relations at Ole Miss and the Meek School of Journalism and New Media namesake. January 29, 2016

Mississippi lost a legend today. My full statement on the passing of Bert Case below. pic.twitter.com/KQIwhzsI5b

— Phil Bryant (@PhilBryantMS) January 28, 2016

He taught me a lot just through observation. Never met someone so hungry for news. I’ll miss his spirit. #BertCase pic.twitter.com/Pgc5PJQPzX

— C.J. LeMaster (@CJLeMaster) January 28, 2016

I am so, so heartbroken to hear of the death of my friend @BertCase. Jackson has lost a legend. RIP, my dear friend. pic.twitter.com/4Z97Dn1ehp

— Therese Apel (@TRex21) January 28, 2016

A Mississippi broadcast legend has passed. RIP, Bert Case. I had to share one of my favorite clips of Bert…… https://t.co/slNW0W2UM8

— Matt Laubhan, CBM (@WTVAmatt) January 28, 2016

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