James Alexander Kilpatrick

Born in Oklahoma City in 1920, he built his career in journalism and became a nationally syndicated columnist whose work appeared in newspapers across the United States. Many readers also knew him from television, especially his regular conservative commentary in the Point-Counterpoint segments on 60 Minutes.

Beyond column writing, he published books on politics, usage, and the craft of writing. His reputation rested on a clear, forceful voice and a talent for argument, whether he was discussing public affairs or the finer points of English.

He died in 2010 in Washington, D.C. Even now, he is remembered as a prominent mid-to-late-20th-century newspaper commentator whose style was both polished and combative.