Bentel

Dwight Bentel, who helped students start the Spartan Daily in 1934 and two years later established the journalism program at San Jose State University, died today (May 16) at age 103. Here’s the Spartan Daily’s obit. Bentel died at a Saratoga skilled-nursing facility after suffering a stroke and pneumonia. He directed the journalism program at San Jose State for nearly 30 years, was a fierce defender of the First Amendment and served on the advisory committee that helped write the Brown Act, which opened up government meetings to the public. He was also the oldest surviving Mercury News reporter. (Photo credit: Spartan Daily)