As the year nears its end, we are taking the time to remember the scholars, athletes, reporters, and writers who have left us. As book publishers, we’re honored to have been part of crafting the legacies of these trailblazing individuals.

Roy Alton Lee, a professor emeritus of history at the University of South Dakota, passed away in December of 2024. “Alton was an accomplished author, publishing 18 books and many articles. He won Teacher of the Year several times and was very involved in research and giving presentations at historical conventions,” shares his obituary. At UNP, Lee was author or co-author of When Sunflowers Bloomed Red (Bison Books, 2020), Publisher for the Masses, Emanuel Haldeman-Julius (Bison Books, 2018), Sunflower Justice (Nebraska, 2014), and Farmers vs. Wage Earners (Nebraska, 2008).

Mary Neiswender, investigative reporter and two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, passed away in March of 2025. “In the great tradition of American journalism, Mary exposed corruption, forced the passage of legislation, and shed light on the dark corners of Los Angeles. Mary’s colleagues called her a force of nature, a reporter’s reporter, a woman of infinite heart and imagination,” shares her obituary. At UNP, Mary Neiswender was co-author of Charlie and Me (Potomac Books, 2025).

Mongomery “Monty” Hill, Tuscarora Beaver Clan and assistant professor in the University of Buffalo’s Department of Indigenous Studies, passed away in April of 2025. Hill was the 2025 recipient of the Mellon Foundation’s Citizen Scholar’s Career Enhancement Fellowship for Junior Faculty. In 2020, he was part of the inaugural cohort of Luce Foundation Knowledge fellows. “He had a deep commitment to the Tuscarora Nation, language revitalization and broadening the scope of Indigenous studies. His love of language and Haudenosaunee culture brought joy to all around him,” shares the University of Buffalo. At UNP, Montgomery was the author of the forthcoming book Making Tuscarora (Nebraska, 2027).

Dave “The Cobra” Parker, Hall of Fame outfielder and former MVP, passed away in June of 2025. Parker made his major league debut in 1973 with the Pirates at age 22. He finished his career with a .290 batting average, 339 home runs, over 2,700 hits, and seven All-Star appearances. He also won two World Series rings, one in 1979 with the Pirates and another in 1989 with the Oakland A’s. “Few players have ever been as talented or entertaining as Dave Parker . . . who spent 19 seasons in the big leagues and ranked among the game’s best at his peak with the Pirates,” writes Adam Berry for the MLB. At UNP, Parker was co-author of Cobra (Nebraska, 2021).

Charly Rosen, former basketball player, minor-league coach, NBA analyst, and prolific basketball writer, passed away in Semptember of 2025. “To Mr. Rosen, basketball was the best of all sports . . . . In 1994, the Wall Street Journal called Mr. Rosen basketball’s ‘foremost literary chronicler,'” writes the New York Times. At UNP, Rosen was author of Sugar (Nebraska, 2018), The Chosen Game (Nebraska, 2017), Perfectly Awful (Nebraska, 2014), Crazy Basketball (Nebraska, 2011), and Players and Pretenders (Bison Books, 2007).