Michael Petrick

Dr. Petrick was one of my favorite journalism professors and a huge influence on me. He had fun teaching, but respected his students, the way a professor ought to teach.

What I enjoyed most about being around Mike was his sense of humor and good cheer, to paraphrase something Mike himself said about another of our colleagues, Tom Rood. He wrote that in supporting Tom's posthumous induction into the Journalism Hall of Fame, but he could just as well have written it about himself—as well as this statement Mike also wrote: “During his tenure at CMU he helped keep us from taking ourselves too seriously.” We'll miss you, Mike.

Miss you, Rog!
Dr. Petrick and Dr. Stan Bradshaw were the best mentors an idealistic, green journalism student could have. I am forever in their debt.
While reminiscing in my attic, I found a CM LIFE from June of 1979 with a front page photo (taken by Mike Green) of Dr. Petrick and myself in a freshmen orientation session...I remember taking as many of their classes as I could get, because they pushed and prodded and gleaned the best effort out of me on every assignment.
Mike...

Dr. Michael Petrick was an excellent journalism professor, legal mentor and professional advocate for me at Central Michigan University. I am blessed and indebted for the privilege to have been taught by Mike Petrick. Jim Hebler/Detroit News/Ford Motor Public Affairs and Business Journalist - thanks in part to his teaching-advocacy-friendship.

Dr. Petrick lives in some of my best memories at CMU.

I learned more from Dr. Petrick than any prof. I still quote him from his Law of the Press course and the hours upon hours of social, out of the classroom discussions.

There are but a few I can look back upon in my life and say that person had an impact. Michael Petrick, teacher, mentor and friend was such a person. I mourn his passing and our loss.

Dr. Petrick was an excellent journalism prof, and very instrumental in my pursuit of becoming a journalist.
Chris Stevens
sports editor
Midland Daily News
CMU class of 1982

Dr. Petrick likely did more for me to gain competence, talent and intuitive thinking as a journalist than anyone in my life, and never failed to amuse during our many social, off-hours chats. I will always hold him dear.