A tribute to the late Sam Metzger, journalist
The Sierra Leone journalist’s leading light Sam Metzger, former editor-in-chief of the celebrated WE yONE and UNITY newspapers died in Freetown, on Monday October 10, 2011. He was a man of high journalistic moral standards, integrity and boundless enthusiasm for whatever task he undertook. No one that was privileged to know him is likely to forget the candor of his speech, the courage of his faith, and the warmth of his friendship. Late Mr. Metzger served several governments; controversial as he was, yet he could from time to time be relied upon to give a balanced account of any event.
At one time he had newspapers for both the All Peoples Congress (APC) and the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). When asked by the Head of State, the late Dr. Siaka P. Stevens “Sam, why you day ya, en you day yander? He simply smiled “Pa, I am a Sierra Leonean”. “Well, try for day na one place”, replied the late president Dr. Siaka Stevens. What Sam Metzger believed, he believed with heart and soul.
Some of his daily newspaper headlines he could still be remembered for in the 60’s and 70’s are: ‘ARATA KACH PUSS PAN TIFF. OGEREE LAFF KENDA FOR SMELL’, etc, etc. Sam Metzger will also be remembered for encouraging young journalists to train professionally for their careers.
The Sierra Leone Journalists Association will be a monument to his foresight and devotion to journalism. The passing of this celebrity will be felt not only throughout the journalistic world, but by his newspaper readership of many years as well. The multi-task icon was also an accomplished musician.
The late Sam Metzger was a father, a brother an uncle and a husband. He was pre-deceased by his wife of many years, Mrs. Ransolina Metzger. He is survived by many relatives both in Sierra Leone, United States, and Great Britain, including his sister Mrs. Georgiana Metzger, his son Edward Metzger and grandson Kingston Metzger, all in New Jersey. His granddaughter, Nicola Jackie Cole in Pennsylvania and a son Handel Metzger and grandson Edward Metzger in the United Kingdom. May Mr. Metzger’s soul rest in peace.
Written by Arolyn I. Koroma and Rev. Gloria Cline –Symithe, Washington, DC- USA
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