Pulitzer Prize-Winning Photographer Ron Edmonds Dies at 77, Known for Iconic Reagan Assassination Attempt Images

Ron Edmonds, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer for the Associated Press, passed away on Friday, May 31, 2024, in Virginia at the age of 77. Edmonds is best remembered for his iconic images of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

Edmonds captured a series of exclusive photographs on March 30, 1981, as John Hinckley Jr. fired at President Reagan outside the Washington Hilton. His images, taken across the roof of Reagan's limousine, showed the president being struck and then shoved into the vehicle. These photos earned Edmonds the Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography in 1982.

Reflecting on the day of the assassination attempt, Edmonds once said, 'Everything happened in such a quick split second. If you looked to your right to see what the shot, what the noise was, and looked back, the president was already gone.'

Born on June 16, 1946, in California, Edmonds began his photography career in 1968. He freelanced in California before joining the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and later became chief photographer. In 1980, he joined the AP in Washington, covering Reagan's presidential campaign.

Ron Edmonds' work as a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer has had a significant impact on the way we document and remember historical events. His legacy underscores the importance of a free press in capturing and sharing critical moments in time.

Edmonds covered the White House for 28 years, capturing significant moments in American presidential history. He retired in 2009 serving the AP's senior White House photographer. In 2013, he received the White House News Photographers Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Reflecting on his Pulitzer Prize-winning work, Edmonds expressed a mix of satisfaction and regret, saying, 'I wish it had been for an image that had not been of violence, of people being hurt.'

Edmonds is survived by his wife, Grace, and their daughter, Ashley. His legacy as a photojournalist is marked by his dedication to capturing history through his lens, bringing some of the most significant moments in American presidential history to life in a way that will be forever remembered.

Julie Pace, AP's executive editor, praised Edmonds, stating, 'Ron brought some of the most significant moments in the history of the American presidency to life for people around the world, capturing images that will be forever remembered.'

Ron Edmonds' work remains a tribute to the power of photojournalism in documenting significant moments in history. His contributions to the field will be remembered and respected by colleagues and future generations alike.

Key Takeaways

• Ron Edmonds, Pulitzer Prize-winning AP photographer, dies at 77.
• Edmonds captured iconic images of 1981 Reagan assassination attempt.
• He won the Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography in 1982.
• Edmonds covered the White House for 28 years, capturing significant moments.
• He is survived by his wife and daughter, leaving a legacy in photojournalism.