It's Monday afternoon, and The Universe newsroom is busy making edits and laying out stories for Tuesday's print edition of the paper. Deadlines have been met; the paper is coming together. Just then an animated, white-haired man in a Hawaiian flower-print shirt shuffles into the newsroom holding The New York Times. 'Aloha!' is his greeting.
Former BYU journalism professor Alf Pratte still stays connected with the BYU journalism community after his retirement more than 10 years ago. (Maddi Dayton)
Nearly every day, retired BYU journalism faculty member Alf Pratte returns to the campus he loves to keep up with the daily buzz, bringing with him an unrivaled enthusiasm for journalism.
'I love to feel the energy,' Pratte said of campus. 'I love to talk to the students.'
Pratte and his wife have stayed in Provo since he retired from teaching in 2003. He takes advantage of his proximity to campus by staying connected with the BYU journalism community. In addition to his frequent visits to the Brimhall Building, Pratte is an active
the Ex-Communicatons Society.
Pratte said he likes to stay involved because journalism is a part of who he is. He said he dreamed of being a journalist even as a kid.
“There was a cartoon strip called 'Superman,'' Pratte said. 'And do you know who the hero was? A mild-mannered journalist named Clark Kent.' A smile crept across Pratte's face as he described his childhood fantasies of being a mild-mannered journalist who, underneath his work clothes, was a blue-caped hero.
Pratte grew up in Regina, Canada, where his journalism dreams flourished. He joined the LDS Church at age 11 and later came to the U.S. to attend BYU. He graduated with a journalism degree in 1962 and immediately began work on his master's degree
home
Anyone who meets Pratte can tell that, in his mind, being a reporter is the most important job there is. Pratte's wife said what she admires most about him is his passion.
'He's a journalist through and through,' June said. 'It defines him.' She described Pratte as a chronic workaholic who is always looking toward his next project.
While Pratte was in Hawaii, he completed his master's thesis on the history of the Honolulu Star Bulletin. He also earned
Pratte started another church newspaper in his LDS stake when he moved to Pennsylvania to start his teaching career
job in
beginning
assistant
'He did me a great service,' Adams said. 'He continued to mentor me, contact me and encourage me. He took a great interest in my career
Pratte discusses current events with former journalism colleagues. (Maddi Dayton)
After his time as a professor, Pratte was recruited by Eric Shumway, then president of BYU—Hawaii, to co-author with him the history of that school. Their work will be published this October at the Mormon Pacific Historical Society Conference to celebrate the university's