Al Brumley, a reporter for The Dallas Morning News, died on Oct. 28 from complications of a brain tumor. He was 40.
A naturally curious fellow, Brumley wrote for the student newspaper while attending Appalachian State University. After graduation, he worked for two small regional newspapers before landing a reporter job in 1987 with The Dallas Morning News. Brumley covered the police beat for several years then switched to the Arts section to write features, movie reviews and a radio column.
Brumley was well respected in media circles, both for his dogged reporting skills and his objectivity. Radio shock jock Howard Stern was so impressed with Brumley’s even-handed interviewing skills that he invited the Dallas reporter to fly to New York and appear on his show in July 1996.
While Brumley was in Manhattan, TWA Flight 800 exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, killing everyone on board. During the next four days, he covered the event for his newspaper, and on CNN. Brumley was one of the few journalists allowed to accompany the Coast Guard as it salvaged the plane’s wreckage.
• Al Brumley’s Movie Reviews