Journalism legend marks 60 years at the Gazette

When she was a young girl in Missouri, Linda Navarro used to religiously read the comic strip  “Brenda Starr,” which chronicled the escapades of a glamorous reporter who chased scoops around the world for The Flash.

“Brenda Starr was a female journalist” when there weren’t a lot of female journalists, Linda said. “And there was something about that, and so by sixth grade, I knew. And that was it.”

That was it, indeed. For 60 years as of this week, Linda has been the Colorado Springs Gazette’s own Brenda Starr.

She has spent her entire career as a reporter, editor and columnist at one paper, one of the most remarkable examples of dedication and longevity in American local journalism.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Studies show that the average journalist stays in the same job for six years, while about 30% leave the industry entirely within that time frame. 

Heck, the average marriage in the United States lasts only 19 years.

How long has Linda been at The Gazette?

“Star Trek” debuted the same year Linda started, The Beatles’ had just made their first visit to the U.S., and Medicare and Medicaid had just been signed into law.

Navarro was 22 years old and fresh out of college in March 1966, when she rolled into Colorado Springs for a job as a cub reporter covering courts and cops at The Gazette Telegraph.

At the time, Colorado Springs was a two-newspaper town, where staff from The Gazette and its rival, The Sun competed for scoops.

In her six decades at The Gazette, Linda has reported news, features and entertainment, and served as a city editor at a time when the paper published both morning and evening editions.

She was there when a United Airlines commuter jet bound from Denver to Colorado Springs crashed in Widefield. She was en route to the airport moments after it hit.

She was there for the Waldo Canyon fire, in 2012, when the whole staff worked around the clock.

She tells a great story about being sent to London by the paper in its salad days to cover the opening of a James Bond movie, “The Spy Who Loved Me,” starring Roger Moore and Barbara Bach.

“I couldn’t believe I was having breakfast on the Thames with Roger Moore,” she told me. “Funny, but all the correspondents at the table that morning were women.”

In recent years, she has been covering nonprofits and the Springs social scene, and penning her must-read “Must See, Must Do” column about the most interesting events in the city. And most recently, for our new Archives section, she’s been writing thrilling history pieces — mostly from memory — like her recent story about the death of Gen. William Palmer.

At a ceremony honoring Linda on Thursday, Chris Reen, president and CEO of Gazette parent Clarity Media Group, said to the staff: “Linda knows half the people in Colorado Springs, and the other half know Linda. She has been incredible for our company. We talk a lot about shining a light with our work. You have shone a light on organizations that help others. And it’s made a real difference in this community, and it’s made a real difference in our companies.”

Rich Laden, who worked at The Gazette for a mere 38 years, put it this way: “So much of what The Gazette has achieved over the years, journalistically and as a member of the Colorado Springs community, is due in large part to the commitment and dedication of associates like Linda Navarro. She’s given so much of her skills and resources to The Gazette as a news organization, and to make it a better place to work. But her dedication to Colorado Springs as a parent, grandparent, and longtime volunteer for organizations such as CASA of the Pikes Peak Region can’t be overlooked. She’s helped make Colorado Springs a better place to live, work, and play.”

How much has Linda’s tenure meant to Colorado Springs?

Let’s just say this. Before there was Google, there was Linda Navarro.

In her “Did you ever wonder?” column before the internet was a thing, readers and the community turned to Linda when they had questions about the city where they live. So did the staff.

Reporter Stephanie Earls interviewed her about that job once. “I’ve always tried to be there for everyone. I find that answer for my community. That’s my job,” Linda said. 

Navarro has described the paper’s mission this way: “It was always so vitally important that we were there for what was happening in this city as this city grew. Covering the city start to finish, east to west, north to south — we were always there. The voice for the city and the voice of the city.”

At the celebration at the paper Thursday, Features Editor Nathan Van Dyne shared a testimonial from Linda’s daughter, Leslie Navarro, to close things out.

“Mom, 60 years. You have been such an incredible role model to so many people, especially to me. I truly admire your dedication, loyalty and the example you set every day. Thank you for continuing to do such wonderful work. I love you.”

As do we all.