Honoring Dan Noyes

Thirty-plus years ago, in the fall of 1977, a small group of us established a non-profit institution devoted to investigative journalism, and we called it the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR).

Our first office was in downtown Oakland, and there were just three of us who moved in the desks, brought in some files, got phone service, and set up shop. One was Tamara Baltar, our first administrator. The other two were Dan Noyes, pictured here, and myself.

Business was slow, at first. After all, there was no precedent for this kind of organization, so nobody knew what to make of us. In the early weeks, as we began preparing research for some of our first investigative projects, local citizens would occasionally drop by to check us out.

I remember one rather well appointed lady who came in, sat down next to my desk, and asked whether I could arrange to have her husband followed. (She suspected he was having an affair.)

Once I determined her husband was not a public figure, I referred her to a private eye.

Meanwhile, Dan, Tamara and I built an institution. Others were involved to be sure, but Dan was always at the center of our Center.



Tonight, it was my privilege to be present at a ceremony hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California Chapter, as they awarded Dan a Career Achievement Award, now he has retired from CIR.

Most of those present tonight, honoring Dan, don't know his secret nickname that those of us who played with him on the legendary Michigan Mafia softball team used: Boomer.

Yep, Dan was one of the greatest home run hitters we ever had in the Bay Area Media Softball League (BAMSL).

And, as any baseball player knows, there are those who are flashy and those who are clutch.

Dan was always clutch. Whether on deadline on a big story together at CIR, or trying to pull out a win on the softball field, my (irregular) heart always beat a little more steadily when I saw Dan Noyes on deck.

Congratulations, Dan! You deserve it.

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