Robert H. Ligon

Long time Santa Cruz resident Bob Ligon passed away suddenly at Dominican Hospital on August 15, 2007. He was 79.

Bob was the first reporter covering Santa Cruz County for the San Jose Mercury. He moved to Santa Cruz with his family in 1955. He was an old style reporter who both wrote his stories and was his own photographer. Over his 20 year career, he covered the major stories, including the 1955 flood, the Ohta murders, along with many popular local feature stories. He also wrote for one of the early alternative newspapers in Santa Cruz County, The SunDaze, as a freelance writer. He wrote under a pseudonym, Horatio, often using his most prized companion, Harry the terrier mix as his sidekick and contributor to his articles. Bob and Harry could often be seen in downtown Santa Cruz and on the courthouse lawn.

After retiring from the San Jose Mercury in the mid-seventies, Bob worked on a number of different projects, including a stint in VISTA, where he grew food for the needy in the Pajaro Valley. As managing editor for the Valley Press, he received awards from The California Newspaper Publishers Association for Best Editorial Page and for a series of articles Bob wrote on non-profit organizations in 1974.

In his later years, Bob worked as a landscaper and nurseryman. He introduced the Tree Dahlia to Santa Cruz County and now the trees can be seen throughout the county. He was known as the Tree Dahlia Man. Bob operated his nursery on Trout Gulch Road where he enjoyed the help from his granddaughter, Lauren.

Bob was born on September 9, 1927 in Richmond, California. His newspaper career started early. At twelve years of age, he started selling newspapers for the Oakland Tribune with his brother, Ira. He joined the United States Navy in 1945, where he was stationed aboard a minesweeper in the Pacific. After the Navy he met and married his wife Eleanor in 1951. He began work at the Oakland Tribune where he did "page make-up." After a number of years with the Oakland Tribune, he went on to work for the Siskiyou Daily News and became managing editor.

He could often be seen having coffee at his favorite coffee house in Aptos, with his dog George by his side.

Always on the quest for greater knowledge, Bob's interests could vary from the study of quantum mechanics to practicing his 5 string banjo.

He is survived by his wife Ellie, of Aptos, his sons Mark Ligon of Los Gatos, Paul Ligon of Santa Cruz, his daughter Nancy Singleton of Redding, his daughter and son-in-law Leslie and Joe La Follette of Aptos. He was especially proud of his grandchildren, Lauren La Follette of Aptos, Lance Corporal Joseph Colin La Follette of Jacksonville, NC, and Madison Ligon of Santa Cruz. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Ira and Ruth Ligon of Redding, and his nieces Lindsay Turner, also of Redding, Susan Silvernail of Yakima, WA, Teri of Seattle, WA, and his nephews, Brian and Earle, Jr. of Olympia, WA. He is preceded in death by his grandson, Ryland Ligon.

In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to The Dominican Stroke Center or the SPCA

A private family gathering is planned.

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