Mailbag: Chuck Loos helped write the Pilot’s storied past

The passing of my friend Charles Loos, once the Daily Pilot’s managing editor, reminds me of the glory days of the Daily Pilot back in the early 1970s.

When I came to Newport Beach in 1973, the late Tom Keevil was the features editor; the late Tom Murphine was the really feared managing editor; and the always-feared Chuck Loos was city editor. Moreover, the Pilot had a staff of hard-driving reporters covering Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Irvine.

Coming from Los Angeles, when I was recruited by the Irvine Co. to become the firm’s director of public relations, I told then-president William Mason that the Irvine Co. was unknown to the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and to Time magazine.

Mason answered, “I don’t care about them, I want you to concentrate on the Daily Pilot.”

After joining the Irvine Co., I understood Mason’s concern, as he came down the hall at 3 p.m. every weekday afternoon to see our copy of that afternoon’s Pilot — fuming, fussing or praising every article about the company, of which there was almost always at least one.

Martin A. Brower

Corona del Mar

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I’m not on “Team Newport”

In the summer, when boys are on vacation, they would do well to remember that loafing, just plain old-fashioned loafing, is a wonderful thing to do. Its companion is daydreaming, another pursuit that holds endless promise and wonderful diversion.

Boys should be specialists in these activities. And the new Team Newport Councilmen are. Especially Team Member Councilman Scott Peotter, whose recent email blast ruthlessly compared Councilman Keith Curry to the Menendez brothers, who brutally murdered their parents in 1989. Peotter’s rants are uncontrolled, lengthy and without merit.

On Dec. 11, 2013, the Newport Beach City Council selected Councilman Rush Hill as the 45th mayor of our city. Hill served Newport Beach with honor and trust, providing our city with a strong financial environment.

Now Team Newport is rising up in out-of-control leaps and bounds, with eagerness, to implement a tax structure using Irvine as its model. Team Newport is the puppets of its numerous wealthy backers, including the carefree dock owners and fire ring enthusiasts.

What is Team Newport’s next policy initiative? How will it affect the residents of Newport Beach? How will it affect you?

Carole Wade

Newport Beach