Carl West was an editor of the State Journal of Frankfort, he won plaudits in Frankfort and Washington as an aggressive, incisive, and intelligent reporter whose curiosity had no boundaries. Once becoming an editor, he used his experience, work ethic and patience to improve an already good medium-sized daily and to nurture and develop a generation of youthful journalistic talent. A Campbell County native who studied journalism at the University of Kentucky, he was a Frankfort correspondent for the Kentucky Post and covered the White House and Pentagon in Washington for the Scripps Howard News Service. A career highlight was his coverage of Watergate, the scandal that drove President Richard Nixon from office. West's contribution to Kentucky goes beyond journalism. He is also the founder of the Kentucky Book Fair, one of the state's most important annual literary and cultural events. Profits from the Book Fair go to local libraries.