Photojournalist Gary Haynes Dies At 76

San Francisco, CA — Newspaper and wire service photojournalist Gary Haynes has died of natural causes at his home in San Francisco. He was 76.

Haynes was found dead Friday after friends and family couldn’t reach him by phone. The Medical Examiner’s Office said the cause of death had not yet been determined.

Haynes is credited with putting together and overseeing a team of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers at the Philadelphia Inquirer in the 1970s and ’80s. Two of those photographers won individual Pulitzers, and a third prize went to the entire staff.

The Inquirer hired Haynes away from the New York Times in 1974. He had also previously worked for United Press International (UPI).

Photographer Clem Murray said Haynes could “find the picture within the picture” and was able to crop a photo to provide its greatest impact.

“Gary was a big personality with big ideas,” Murray said. “He pushed us to be creative and do whatever it took to capture ‘The Moment.'”

Former Inquirer managing editor Gene Foreman said, “Gary was always an easygoing person, but a fierce advocate for photography and graphics.”

Haynes, a Salinas, Kansas, native got his first introduction to photography while he was in the Army. He was hired by UPI in Detroit in 1958.

Haynes’ career included covering the civil rights movement, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, Olympic Games, the World Series, presidential campaigns, and space shuttle launches.

Haynes also compiled the 2006 book, Picture This!: The Inside Story and Classic Photos of UPI Newspictures.

Gary Haynes is survived by his son, Philip, and his daughters, Stephanie and Emily.