What Is This World Coming To?

Former White House Press Secretary and Fox News anchor Tony Snow died early this morning from complications associated with treatment for colon cancer. He leaves behind a wife and three children.

Snow, 53, was a broadcaster for Fox News Channel and Fox News Radio when he replaced Scott McClellan as President Bush’s press secretary in May 2006.

Snow served just 17 months as press secretary, a tenure interrupted by his second bout with cancer. He resigned as Bush’s chief spokesman six months later, in September 2007.

Robert Anthony Snow was born June 1, 1955, in Berea, Kentucky, and was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. When he was 17, his mother died of colon cancer. She was 38.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Davidson College near Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1977, Snow pursued graduate work in philosophy and economics at the University of Chicago.

He worked as an editorial writer and editor at several newspapers, including The Washington Times and the Detroit News. He wrote a column in Detroit, and later wrote a syndicated column.

Snow joined the administration of Bush’s father, George H.W. Bush, in 1991, first as chief speech writer and later as deputy assistant to the president for media affairs.

Snow became a television personality when he launched his news shows on Fox in 1993.

When he returned to work April 30, 2007, after the second cancer diagnosis, a usually articulate and loquacious Snow stumbled to find words.

“You never anticipate this stuff,” he said. “It just happens.”

“I want to thank you all. It really meant the world to me. Anybody who does not not believe that thoughts and prayers make a difference, they’re just wrong.”

He then prefaced a discussion of his health by saying, “I’m a very lucky guy.”

Outside of work, Snow played the guitar, saxophone and flute, and was in a band called Beats Workin’ with other Washington professionals.