Greg Reeves

I have some sad news to pass along this morning: Greg Reeves, who founded Crime Scene KC, passed away during the night. We were just told a short time ago. Greg had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, what people used to call Lou Gehrig's Disease. He left The Star in March because of the illness.

His obituary is available here.

There are other people who knew Greg better, but I want to point out a couple of things. There wouldn't be a Crime Scene KC without Greg. He built one of the best, largest blogs in the state with a fantastically loyal, friendly readership -- and won awards while doing it. Nobody had done this particular job before, so Greg had to cut his own path. He was a pioneer.

Before he started blogging, Greg was an integral part of The Star's investigative journalism team. He knew databases and computer-assisted reporting better than anybody in our organization. Without his work, several important stories -- stories that informed the public and helped hold public officials to account -- never would have happened. His work was a major part of The Star's 1992 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting.

The last time I saw Greg was several weeks ago, when we went to lunch. By that point, the disease had a noticeable effect on him, and he had a difficult time moving his arms. Despite dealing with a terrible illness, though, he remained upbeat. Bragged about his kids. Cracked some dumb jokes. That positivity is characteristic of the entire time I knew him. Whenever I needed help, he consistently encouraged me. Even after he left The Star, he was always willing to field a phone call and answer questions. He was a good friend.

My life would have been a lot poorer if I hadn't known him. And I suspect that's true for a lot of people out there today.

Comments

[Debby]

God Speed, Greg.........my sympathies to all who knew Greg, especially his family.....lean on each other for strength, draw comfort from your memories, and remember that he will always be right there in your heart.

[Tam]

God Bless him and his friends and family.

[tr]

Rest in Peace Greg.
My heart goes out to his family and friends.

["The G"]

Oh my God, This is terrible news. In his signing off blog, he mentioned that all of his time would be devoted to fighting the disease that took his father, and now it appears as though he has been taken as well.

I am even more glad that I went to the first CSKC meetup at the Brick back in March. It was a pleasure to meet Greg and let him and your management know how much I like the blog and his hard work on it.

God Speed CSKC_Supaman...your work here is done, we'll carry on from here...

Condolences to his daughters and family and all those who knew him best

[G]

Took all of 3 seconds when talking to Greg to realize what kind of person you were dealing with: Friendly, honest, genuine.

He'll be missed.

It's frustrating that after all these years, we seem to be no further along in battling ALS.

[JewwellsP]

God Bless you Greg for the Great job you have done in your time here.
Rest now, forever be in Peace.

[aqua]

I am very thankful for Greg for pioneering this CSKC blog for us. I never met him face to face but feel I know him as a friend. I will miss him.

To Greg's family, may God give you peace and strength in your time of need.

[J D]

Goodbye Greg, and thanks for all of your hard work. If CSKC shows us anything, it's that while some people may choose to waste their lives, there's still plenty of people who do something to better their society. Greg obviously contributed a lot to CSKC, The Star, and Kansas City all-around. Hopefully he is in a better place now.

[rhonda]

My condolences to Greg's family. I really enjoyed "getting to know him", at least in cyberville. He was greatly appreciated by a lot of people and you should all be very proud of his accomplishments and of the person he was.

[onetime]

I didn't have to scroll down, I knew what I was about to read as soon as I could see his name. I didn't have the pleasure of meeting him personally, but enjoyed knowing him through here. I'm still new on here, and he was a reason I liked to pop in now and then. Best of luck to his family, and his close friends. I am sure now is a hard time for them. If he was the man everyone says he is, I am sure he wouldn't want everyone down on his account...he's in a better place and would want his loved ones to be happy for him. God Bless.

[ronk1969]

never have been good at goodbye's...
may he rest in peace.

[Doc™]

Rest in Peace Greg, my condolences to your wife Bonnie and your children.

[Ni]

To the Reeves family and friends: May the peace which comes from the memories & love you shared with Greg comfort you now and in the days ahead. God Bless

[Gunny]

I'm totally shocked to hear this sad news. I didn't know Greg was that ill. Greg, Thank You. Rest in peace my friend. To Greg's family and friends - God Bless you Keep You.

[cooper1178]

I met Greg just one time, shortly after his retirement, and I am truly greatful for having done so. He was a great guy with a great outlook and he will be missed. My thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.

[All n A Days Work]

Sending well wishes to the Reeves Family in their time of sorrow. Greg you will be sorely missed in the KC community. God Bless you!

[Nick]

Me too Gunny. I had no idea his condition was so far advanced.
I never knew him, but I certainly had a great deal of admiration for him. He started working at the Star right after I moved on, which is a testament to his character as those were days of great turmoil and heartache, when literally hundreds left at the first opportunity.

[Mark D]

The guy wasn't just a reporter or writer -- he was a JOURNALIST. There don't seem to be too many of those around more.

I didn't even know him personally, but reading his work here (and his Pulitzer winning articles that one of my college journalism professors used as examples of great work) made me feel like I did. I'm even welling up just typing this.

Kansas City lost a great one today. God speed, Mr. Reeves ... God speed.

[The_Golfer]

Thoughts and prayers to the Reeves family.

Never met him, but from contact via the CSKC blog, he always showed humor, respect, and honesty.

KC has lost a good person.

[Tim]

Thoughts and prayers to the Reeves family

[vamp85]

Rest in peace, Greg Reeves. I think I speak for everyone on this blog when I say that you will be deeply missed.

[*Sexy*]

I had gotten the honor of meeting Greg. Such a wonderful man! I am truly going to miss him! Even after he left the Star I kept in contact via email to make sure he was doing ok. SO because of the fact that I am a woman and we tend to get emotional I am fighting the wetness in my eye. I will cherish our friendship and always remember his greatness!

[jeano]

Greg's handling of this blog is what drew me to it. It was always interesting, provocative and fun. God bless him and his family! They will be in my prayers.

[bh]

I was saddened by the news of Gregs passing. He was one of the lucky few who truly loved his work. Deepest condolences to his family.

I've made some very nice friends through KCCS and for that my thanks go out to Greg.

Deepest sympathy to his family.

[Oldman]

Dear Greg,

We have had our bad times and we've had our great times. The great times always outweighed the bad.

Thank you for the opportunity to blog with some (but not all) of the greatest people in the world (I do still have my exceptions to this statement).

Thanks for ratting me out to everyone. During the blog battles when people would state they were getting popcorn and Junior Mints, you let them know that it was I that posted under those names (Popcorn and Junior Mints).

Greg, your blog, and the people on them, pulled me up when I was down, righted me when I was wrong, helped me laugh when I was sad, joined with me when I was happy.

I can't imagine a world without you init and yet that's seems to now be a reality. Please rest assured that you will always be a part of my world, if only in spirit.

My most heartfelt condolences to your family. My prayers are with them in their time of need.

Look, up in the air...it's a bird, no a plane, no it's just Greg, CSKC_Supaman looking down on us, watching his baby blog grow.

Heaven is getting a great journalist for its staff.

[Kerri]

I didn't know Greg, but am blessed with the opportunity to meet others because of him.

He touched so many people's lives. I can't wait to meet him in Heaven.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

[Tony]

My condolences to his family and friends. Truly Greg Reeves was a pioneering blogger, immensely talented journalist and I've only heard/read people speak highly of him.

[regina]

My heartfelt condolences are left with his family.
I had the pleasure of meeting him shortly after his retirement. I could tell that he was someone that was full of will to live to defeat the disease. I am happy to have meet such a man such as him.

I am honered to have blogged with you and to have met you for drinks.

God Speed CSKC_Supaman

[regina]

My heartfelt condolences are left with his family.
I had the pleasure of meeting him shortly after his retirement. I could tell that he was someone that was full of will to live to defeat the disease. I am happy to have met a man such as him.

I am honered to have blogged with you and to have met you for drinks.

God Speed CSKC_Supaman

[You're a Mean Drunk R2D2™]

This is a shock to me and I offer my condolences to your family and your friends Greg. You were able to bring many people together here via CSKC and I only wish that I could have met you for drinks.

It's a honor to have been able to participate in this blog with you at the helms and you will never be forgotten and always remembered.

[A]

I never had the opportunity to meet Greg. I wish I had. God Bless you sir.

[Debbie - KCPD]

I talked with Greg regularly in his great quest for data, and found him to be a very intelligent, personable, and funny man. It was always a joy to hear from him. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed.

[creighton]

I had the great honor to meet Greg twice, once professionally when he won his EpPy award for CSKC in Las Vegas, and once socially at his retirement soiree at The Brick. Both times, I found him to be just as described, warm, funny, and genuinely interested in the stories of those around him. He was quite the lady charmer, as well.

Many thanks to you, Greg, for the enormous mark you have left on Kansas City and the journalism industry. Beyond the awards and accolades, the stories and data, you have a legacy of an outstanding family and friends and colleagues who will miss your wit and quality work.

God's speed, my friend. We are all blessed to have shared time with you.

[Debbie - KCPD]

I talked with Greg regularly in his great quest for data, and found him to be a very intelligent, personable, and funny man. It was always a joy to hear from him. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed.

[logsol]

I didn't know Greg, but had communicated with him a couple of times here on his BLOG. Greg was indeed a pioneer and a community servant. He provided Kansas Citians their own onramp to the Information Highway by providing this space to discuss, debate, inquire...and LEARN. I believe Greg left us all the legacy of lowering the boundaries of free thought and free speech...which makes him more than just a pioneer, but also a patriot. God bless you Greg.

[rebecca silvers]

I'm so very sorry to hear this....God Bless
you Greg

[gruuvygirl]

This is very sad news. I send my condolences and warm thoughts to Greg's family.

[CareBear]

My condolences to Gregs' family. Godspeed CSKC_Supaman, save a place for me.

[Sid Vicious]

Now i'm sad.

[Lance B. McNack]

Rest in Peace Greg. You were a wonderful person and crime scene kc will not be the same without you. Thank you so much for being the incredible man thatwe came to know and love.

[Last Negro Standing]

My heart goes out to the friends and family of Mr. Reeves.

- LNS

[eephus]

A sincere final hat tip to a class act. Many thoughts and prayers are headed his family's way.

[Sasquach]

Kay, sera, sera. It's just too bad it had to be to someone like Mr. Reeves. Condolences to the family. He will be missed.

[jalovsky]

Rest in peace my friend.

[The DB]

When I had the honor to meet Greg with the others at the Brick, it was like meeting an old friend. We shared stories, laughed, and the evening went by too fast. Godspeed to you Greg, and a final Hat Tip to the CSKC_Supa Man.

And as Greg always posted, "And please remember to sign your comments.:)"

The DB

[Doc™]

This is for Greg:

23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

[Doc™]

This is for Greg:

23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

[Doc™]

This is for Greg:

23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

[Patty PV]

I am sad to hear this news - Greg was truly a great man. The local ALS chapter has a fundraiser every year; is there any way the CSKC folk might raise money in Greg's memory? One of my dearest friends also died of ALS and I have made donations to the local chapter, or donate items for its annual silent auction, when I can. I think it would be fitting to give Greg a tribute that would advance research and treatment of ALS.

[Mommasack]

My thoughts & prayers go out to all who lost a wonderful father, husband, family member or friend with the passing of Greg Reeves. He was a truly inspirational man. His journey here on Earth is complete, but we all know Greg is up there in Heaven watching over CSKC, the bloggers, & James...in his healthy, Heavenly body

God Bless Greg Reeves