KINGSTON, Jamaica – Award-winning veteran journalist Balford Henry, whose career spanned more than five decades of reporting, has died at the age of 74.

He died on Monday after a short illness.

Henry entered journalism in 1971 as a trainee reporter with the Gleaner while in sixth form at Wolmer’s Boys’ School in Kingston.

Early in his career, he reported on sittings of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) before making his name as a labour relations reporter and later a parliamentary journalist.

He also covered major social and cultural activities and historical events, including Bob Marley’s funeral in 1981.

Henry also served as a senior reporter with the Jamaica Observer and a consulting editor at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS).

A recipient of a number of professional awards, Henry was the winner of the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) Honorary Award for a series on the social and economic problems facing Jamaican youths in Britain’s inner cities, based on his own experience while living in the country in 1977, according to the JIS.

He also won the PAJ Best Story award for his coverage of Marley’s funeral as well as the PAJ’s first Cultural Story Award for the feature on reggae singer Junior Byles entitled, ‘Fall of a Superstar’.
In 2011, Henry was conferred with the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for distinguished service to journalism.

He leaves behind two sons and two daughters.