Dorothea Brooks

Legacy: As UPI's first female business editor, Ms. Brooks expanded the wire service's coverage and capitalized on the Arab oil embargo of 1973 to lure eager reporters to business news. She overcame the standard gender obstacles of her day and earned respect from peers throughout business journalism. She introduced consumer-friendly copy--what we now call personal finance stories--and started a weekly business features package, which expanded the horizon of business news for readers and for reporters in bureaus around the world. Intensely loyal to UPI, Ms. Brooks weathered the stormy years of the 1980s "even when the checks bounced," but finally left in 1987 to join PR Newswire, where she became vice president of member services. She consistently downplays her pioneering role: "I'm a newsman, and I never use any other term."

Journalistic Progeny: Karen W. Arenson, Cheryl M. Hall, Eve Krzyzanowski and Linda O'Bryon.

Personal: Born Nov. 15, 1923. She grew up in Tarrytown, N.Y.

Family: Married to Henry Jandrucko for more than 50 years; they share a passion for horses.

Awards: Elliott V. Bell Award, 1986; Matrix Award, New York Women in Communication, 1986.

Education: Washington Irving High School.

What she has said about herself: "I was fair. I cared."

Home run stories or accomplishments: "The people I was smart enough to hire."

What others have said about her: Mary Tobin, former UPI correspondent: "Dottie's special talent was in putting people in slots they were best suited for and then encouraging them to shine. She also had the ability to put always-limited resources to work productively."