Changes

| death_place =[[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]]​

| death_place =[[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]]​

|occupation =|[[Journalist]]<br>

|occupation =|[[Journalist]]<br>

State inspector general​

State inspector general​<br>

| spouse =Donna Mulhearn Lynch​

| spouse =Donna Mulhearn Lynch​

| children =William Lynch, Jr.<br>

| children =William Lynch, Jr.<br>

Jonathan D. Lynch​

Jonathan D. Lynch​

| alma_mater=[[Louisiana State University]]​

| alma_mater=[[Louisiana State University]]​

}}​

}}​

'''William Hawthorn Lynch, Sr.''', known as '''Bill Lynch''' (April 16, 1929 &ndash; February 15, 2004), was an [[United States|American]] [[journalist]] who served as the first Inspector General of the U.S. state of [[Louisiana]], a position which involves investigations into public corruption, misuse of state property, and governmental inefficiency.​

 

'''William Hawthorn Lynch, Sr.''', known as '''Bill Lynch''' (April 16, 1929 &ndash; February 15, 2004), was an [[United States|American]] [[journalist]] who served as the first Inspector General of the U.S. state of [[Louisiana]], a position which involves investigations into public corruption, misuse of state property, and governmental inefficiency.

 

==Background==​

==Background==​

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Lynch was born in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], and reared, first, in [[New York City]] and then in rural Elizabeth in Allen Parish in south Louisiana. In 1951, he graduated from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]] and then spent two years in the [[United States Marine Corps]], in which he attained the rank of staff sergeant. In 1948, Lynch was a temporary sportswriter for ''The Shreveport Times'' in [[Shreveport]] in northwestern Louisiana.<ref name=bio>''New Orleans Times-Picayune'', February 16, 2004.</ref>​

Lynch was born in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], and reared, first, in [[New York City]] and then in rural Elizabeth in Allen Parish in south Louisiana. In 1951, he graduated from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]] and then spent two years in the [[United States Marine Corps]], in which he attained the rank of staff sergeant. In 1948, Lynch was a temporary sportswriter for ''The Shreveport Times'' in [[Shreveport]] in northwestern Louisiana.<ref name=bio>''New Orleans Times-Picayune'', February 16, 2004.</ref>​

 

==Journalist and inspector general==​

==Journalist and inspector general==​

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After his military service ended in 1953, Lynch returned to ''The Shreveport Times'', where he became an assistant city editor and political reporter until 1965. At ''The  Times'', Lynch covered the 1959 saga of then [[Governor]] [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], the relationship with stripper Blaze Starr, and Long's commitment to the state mental hospital in Mandeville in St. Tammany Parish. He established ''The Shreveport Times'' bureau in Baton Rouge, from which he did most of his newspaper investigative work. In 1965, he launched a 14-year association with the since defunct ''New Orleans States-Item''. He covered the destructive Hurricane Betsy, which struck the [[Gulf Coast]] and [[New Orleans]] area in 1965.<ref name=bio/>​

After his military service concluded in 1953, Lynch returned to ''The Shreveport Times'', where he became an assistant city editor and political reporter until 1965. At ''The  Times'', Lynch covered the 1959 saga of then [[Governor]] [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], the relationship with stripper Blaze Starr, and Long's commitment to the state mental hospital in Mandeville in St. Tammany Parish. He established ''The Shreveport Times'' bureau in Baton Rouge, from which he did most of his newspaper investigative work. In 1965, he launched a 14-year association with the since defunct ''New Orleans States-Item''. He covered the destructive Hurricane Betsy, which struck the [[Gulf Coast]] and [[New Orleans]] area in 1965.<ref name=bio/>​

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From 1979 to 1988, he worked at the Baton Rouge bureau of ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune'', during which time his investigations into the third term of Governor [[Edwin Edwards]] led to Edwards' indictment in 1984 on federal charges dealing with the licensure of hospitals and nursing homes. Edwards and his brother, Marion Edwards, were acquitted in a second trial after a hung jury developed in the first case.<ref name=bio/>​

From 1979 to 1988, he worked at the Baton Rouge bureau of ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune'', during which time his investigations into the third term of Governor [[Edwin Edwards]] led to Edwards' indictment in 1984 on federal charges dealing with the licensure of hospitals and nursing homes. Edwards and his brother, Marion Edwards, were acquitted in a second trial after a hung jury developed in the first case.<ref name=bio/>​

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In April 1988, Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], under executive order, named Lynch to the newly established position of inspector general because, in Roemer's words, Lynch had "honor, honesty and a knowledge of government. He was the inspector general of the press corps. He called it like he saw it. He wasn't in anybody's pocket. He cared about Louisiana and wanted to make it a better place."<ref name=bio/> Lynch remained Inspector General until his death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oig.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&nid=6&pnid=2&pid=3&catid=0|title=History|publisher=oig. Louisiana.gov|accessdate=November 26, 2013}}</ref>​

In April 1988, Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], under executive order, named Lynch to the newly established position of inspector general because, in Roemer's words, Lynch had "honor, honesty and a knowledge of government. He was the inspector general of the press corps. He called it like he saw it. He wasn't in anybody's pocket. He cared about Louisiana and wanted to make it a better place."<ref name=bio/> Lynch remained Inspector General until his death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oig.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&nid=6&pnid=2&pid=3&catid=0|title=History|publisher=oig. Louisiana.gov|accessdate=November 26, 2013}}</ref>​

 

==Death and legacy==​

==Death and legacy==​

Lynch died in Baton Rouge at the age of seventy-four after hospitalization from complications related to heart disease. Upon his death, then Governor [[Kathleen  Blanco]] termed Lynch "one of our state's legendary journalists and a talented man of great character who helped make a stronger Louisiana. ... He relentlessly aimed his journalistic light into the dark places of Louisiana politics.  ... As inspector general, he continued his crusade to clean up our political system by exposing wasteful spending and corruption. He leaves behind a legacy of integrity, devotion, and courage."<ref name=bio/>​

Lynch died in Baton Rouge at the age of seventy-four after hospitalization from complications related to heart disease. Upon his death, then Governor [[Kathleen  Blanco]] termed Lynch "one of our state's legendary journalists and a talented man of great character who helped make a stronger Louisiana. ... He relentlessly aimed his journalistic light into the dark places of Louisiana politics.  ... As inspector general, he continued his crusade to clean up our political system by exposing wasteful spending and corruption. He leaves behind a legacy of integrity, devotion, and courage."<ref name=bio/>​