Gil Thelen has been a journalist for more than 55 years, including a prizewinning medical reporter in Washington, a managing editor of The Charlotte Observer, editor of two South Carolina newspapers (Myrtle Beach and Columbia) before becoming editor of The Tampa Tribune in 1998. He was named to the Florida Newspaper Hall of Fame after his retirement as President and Publisher of the Tribune in 2006. He was Clendinen Professor at the University of South Florida's School of Journalism and Mass Communications, 2006-14.
Gil was educated at Duke University and Cornell University Medical College. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2014. He is founder and president of Me-Over-PD, a 501(c)(3) foundation. Follow his Parkinson's journey at www.ShufflingEditor.com.
Struby Thelen met her future husband in the newsroom of The Charlotte Observer. She has been a prize-winning newspaper designer and supervising editor. While at The (Myrtle Beach, SC) Sun News, she edited and designed the book "Hurricane Hugo and The Grand Strand."