Steve Swogetinsky

Published 7:17 pm Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Steve Swogetinsky, a devoted family man and passionate journalist, passed away Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 at Ochsner Rush Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi, surrounded by his loved ones.

Steve, 69, of Quitman, Mississippi, was born Oct. 14, 1955, to M.B. and Mary (Stewart) Swogetinsky in Jackson, Mississippi.

His family was the cornerstone of his life, and he cherished every moment spent together, especially those times at their beloved lake house. Steve’s love for family was matched only by his dedication to his craft in newspaper journalism.

With a distinguished career of 50 years that began with The Laurel Leader-Call in 1972 and concluded with The Neshoba Democrat in 2022, he covered countless events with enthusiasm and insight,

Steve’s storied and award-winning journalism journey began his junior year in high school when he began writing sports stories for his hometown newspaper, The Laurel Leader-Call. Two years later he was attending Jones County Junior College and his smoldering love for journalism burst into flames when he joined the staff of the Radonian, the school’s newspaper. From there he moved on to the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was sports editor of the Student Printz.

It was at USM that his life changed forever, when a young lady from Wesson by the name of Denise Landress, in a desperate attempt to gain his attention, snatched the paper out of his typewriter. Two years later they would become husband and wife.

After graduating from USM Steve took his first full-time professional sports writing job at the Natchez Democrat. In 1977, just before he and Denise were married, Steve took the assistant sports editor’s position at the Vicksburg Evening Post. He was promoted to sports editor in 1979.

He moved to Meridian in 1986 as assistant sport editor before moving to the news side of the business, where he quickly moved up the ranks due to his unmatchable work ethic and ability to get the best out of others.

In 1989 he took a job as editor of the Laurel Leader-Call, the same daily newspaper he had worked for as a high school student. In 1991 he returned to the Meridian Star, where he eventually became the paper’s managing editor.

He made the shift to weekly newspapers in 1997 when he became publisher of the Clarke County Tribune and elevated the newspaper to award-winning status for its journalistic content during his tenure. It was during this time that Quitman became the family’s permanent hometown.

In 2002, Steve’s career took a surprising turn as he became a nursing home administrator for East Mississippi State Hospital and served in that capacity for 12 years. He couldn’t get the ink out of his blood however, and wrote articles for The Kemper County Messenger, Neshoba Democrat and The Meridian Star during that time.

He closed out his work career covering news and sports for both the Democrat and the Messenger, continuing to win writing awards along the way.

While Steve absolutely loved to work, it was really all about the people to him. The residents at the nursing home where he worked became his family. The same was true at all of the newspapers he worked for. The teams were his teams, the players were his players, the mayors were his mayors, the people of the cities and counties were his people, and their stories were his stories.

He helped give many journalists their start in the newspaper business with his uncanny ability to believe in others and find their hidden talents. Steve’s ability to bring the best out of the others is a legacy that will live on forever. He truly fought for the underdog and had a way of helping develop many of them into leaders.

Steve was not an athlete, but sports was one of his loves and the New York Jets were his passion. He loved to talk about the 1969 Super Bowl and longed to see them win another one in his lifetime.

Steve’s love for family was deep, raw, and true. The birth of each of his children was the ‘best day of his life” to him. When he began to have grandchildren that was all he could talk about. Every time they had an adventure, it was as if he did as well.

If he wasn’t at home, Steve’s two favorite activities were going to the “lake” his family owned, or walking the sidelines of a high school football game.

Steve is survived by his loving, devoted wife of 47 years, Denise Lynn Swogetinsky; daughter, Stephanie Lynn Swogetinsky-Isbell; son, Steven Swogetinsky Jr.; daughter Mary Lynn (Andy Boutwell) Swogetinsky; and daughter Amelia Joy Swogetinsky; four grandchildren, Marley Lynn Johnson, Karma Elaine Isbell, Matilda Lennon Johnson and Patrick Lane Isbell; sister, Mary Louise (William) Nail; and several nieces, nephews and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his father, M.B. Swogetinsky, and mother, Mary Ann Swogetinsky.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, from 11 to 1 p.m. at Wright’s Funeral Home in Quitman.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, Feb. 20, at 1 p.m. at Wright’s Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Austin Bishop officiating.

Online condolences can be given at www.wrightsfuneral.com.