Funeral service for Fred Brooks, 90, will be held at 2 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church in Dodge City with the Rev. Lance Carrithers and Father Dennis Zimmerman presiding. Burial will follow at Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in Fort Dodge.
Mr. Brooks died Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, at Presbyterian Manor of the Plains in Dodge City.
He was born Oct. 24, 1920, in Washington, D.C., the son of Clay Evan and Ethelyn Higgins Brooks.
He graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C., and Kansas University in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Mr. Brooks served in the U.S. Navy during WWII from 1942 through 1946.
In 1950, he worked for the Hutchinson News and later for the Salina Journal, where he became the Sunday editor in 1952. In 1959, Mr. Brooks returned to the Hutchinson News as news editor and was named the managing editor in 1965. In 1970, he was named editor and publisher of the Garden City Telegram, retiring Jan. 17, 1987. During his 17 years, the Telegram won several Kansas Press Association awards for general excellence. During his retirement, Mr. Brooks worked two years as a writing coach for Harris Enterprises Inc. and visited eight newspapers periodically to hold clinics. He traveled to Russia and Costa Rica as a representative of the Garden City Sister Cities committee. Other travels for the Hutchinson News took him to Europe and Alaska.
While in Garden City, Mr. Brooks served as a member of the Finney County United Way board. He was president of the Clifford R. Hope foundation and served 13 years as chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board. He was chairman of the Garden City Electrical Board from 1974 to 1982 and president of the Southwest Kansas Editorial Association. He was a member of the Citizens Committee to recommend a site for a new city hall and on the Facilities Committee in 1994 that recommended construction of two new fifth-sixth grade centers. Other Garden City memberships include: St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Chamber of Commerce board of directors, YMCA Board, St. Catherine Hospital Advisory Board, and the Garden City High School Office Education Advisory Board. In Dodge City, he was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Moose Lodge, Lions Club, the High Plains Natural History Society, Service Corps of Retired Executives, Positive Connection, Salvation Army, Press Club, United Way, and a former member of St. Cornelius Episcopal Church.
On Oct. 24, 1942, he married Normazee “Robin” Brent of Osborne. She preceded him in death. He later married Gwen Francis Wilson on Feb. 4, 1995. She survives.
Other survivors include one son, Jeffrey Brooks and wife Mary, Kopperl, Texas; granddaughters Renee McKinney, Shelly Howard, and Amanda Fishback; one grandson, Bobby Votruba; great-grandchildren Brandy Pollifrone, Tiffany McKinney, Michael McKinney, Robin Votruba, Zack and Zane Howard, and Brittany and Zachary Fishback; great-great-grandchildren Joseph and Jacob Pollifrone, and Malia and Brayden Fishback; and four stepchildren, nine stepgrandchildren, and two stepgreat-grandchildren.
His parents and his daughter, Dayna Winfrey, also preceded him in death.
The family suggests memorials to a charity of the donor’s choice or First United Methodist Church, sent in care of Swaim Funeral Home, 1901 Sixth Ave., Dodge City, KS 67801.
Online condolences can be sent at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.

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