Editor's Desk: Ed Casey showed that the old school knew its stuff

Ever since I first became a professional journalist I heard about editors who were said to be from the "old school." I never quite knew what that meant, except for the implication that this was some sort of remedial institution - like summer school. Then, I got old and found myself at the head of the class.

Ed Casey, our former executive editor who died last Sunday, was from the old school - and I say that with reverence.

He came up in the business at a time when most people read two newspapers a day to satisfy an insatiable thirst for news. Newspapers commanded great respect - young people, inspired by the...