Everyone starts somewhere and Pittsburgh journalist Madelyn Ross is no exception.
In 1972 she joined The Pittsburgh Press. On Aug. 6, 1972, a version of this photograph by Press photographer Kent Badger appeared in the newspaper next to a column by William Allan, Press Features Editor.
In the photograph, Ms. Ross used a ruler to measure a pothole that was seven inches deep on River Avenue near the Seventh Street Bridge.
Mr. Allan’s bemoaned in his column that potholes, which normally bloom on Pittsburgh roads in the spring, were making life downright dangerous for motorists during that summer.
It turned out that depth was one of Madelyn Ross’s many talents. By 1983, she had risen to managing editor of The Pittsburgh Press. Then, in 1986 and 1987, The Pittsburgh Press won consecutive Pulitzer Prizes.
Ms. Ross served as managing editor of The Pittsburgh Press from 1983 to 1992. After a lengthy newspaper strike in 1992, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette purchased the Pittsburgh Press. Ms. Ross was hired as managing editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1992 and left that position in April of 2005.
Since 2005, Ms. Ross has been in charge of national media relations for the University of Pittsburgh.
