Charles (Chuck) Stone Jr., a prominent and pioneering American journalist who touched and shaped many lives as a big-city newspaper columnist, university professor and a founder of the National Association of Black Journalists, died over the weekend at an assisted living facility near Chapel Hill, N.C. 

His death was confirmed by his daughter Krishna, who said he had been suffering from congestive heart failure.

Stone was so trusted by the readers of his Philadelphia Daily News column that dozens of homicide suspects insisted in surrendering to him.

He was 89 years old.

H/T Washington Post