Veteran, versatile ex-AP photographer ‘Red’ McLendon dies

Lennox “Red” McLendon, a globe-trotting photographer who chronicled everything from the Vietnam War to the Academy Awards during a long career with the U.S. Navy and The Associated Press, has died at 74.

McLendon died Oct. 24 in Las Vegas, according to his family. No cause of death was given, but he had suffered from Parkinson’s disease and other ailments in recent years.

He began his long career as a photojournalist upon enlisting with the U.S. Navy in 1962. After teaching photography for a time, he was dispatched to Southeast Asia to cover the Vietnam War as a military combat photographer.

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In this March 11, 2011, Lennox "Red" McLendon poses for a portrait in Las Vegas (© 2011 Douglas C. Pizac via AP)

That assignment earned him the Navy Achievement Medal With Combat V for what the military described as “professionalism and devotion to duty under arduous living and working conditions and frequent enemy rocket and mortar attacks.”

After leaving the Navy in 1970, McLendon went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Syracuse University before joining Georgia’s Marietta Daily Journal newspaper in 1974 as its chief photographer.

During his time in Georgia, he also began freelancing for The Associated Press. When the AP’s Atlanta photo editor, Spencer Jones, moved to a similar position in Los Angeles, he brought McLendon with him as a staff photographer.

“He was outstanding in every assignment, from sports to politics to space shuttle landings at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert,” Jones said Monday. “Red was instrumental in coverage of all the awards shows, music, television and Academy Awards.”

He also covered natural disasters, including earthquakes and wildfires, the Olympics and other major sports events, and photographed presidents and popes.

A large, flamboyant personality with flaming red hair, McLendon himself stood out at most events he covered.

“One of the things I fondly remember is what others jokingly said about him — he had the sharpest elbows in the industry,” recalled former AP photographer Doug Pizac. “During crowded photo shoots, few dared to stand next to him and try to get in front for fear of getting a jab in the ribcage. He protected his space for the best shot to put on the wire.”

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Dianne McLendon.

A funeral service is scheduled for Thursday at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.

In this Nov. 10, 1977 photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Lennox McLendon shows comedians Don Rickles, left, pretending to strangle Red Buttons prior to an Annual Stag Roast in Los Angeles. AP Photo/ Lennox McLendon)

U.S. Border Patrolmen Ed Pyeatt, right, and Steve Shields, left, march five illegal aliens to the holding center in Texas shortly after their apprehension in the desert, August 18, 1981. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

Ross Perot, right, independent candidate for president, gives a thumbs up to the crowd gathered in the Great Hall at Michigan State University, as he walked through the site of the presidential debate in East Lansing, Mich., Oct. 19, 1992. Man at left is unidentified. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

Unidentified women greet a young boy who was evacuated by bus to a nearby junior high school in San Diego from the schoolyard of the Cleveland Elementary School after a sniper opened fire on the schoolyard, Jan. 29, 1979. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

U.S. performer Bruce Springsteen plays his Fender Telecaster guitar while singing his hit song "Born in the U.S.A." as he completed his world tour at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in September 1985. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

U.S. Border Patrol officer Ed Pyeatt consoles an unidentified illegal immigrant sitting in a cell at Chula Vista station, a border town to Mexico, August 18, 1981. "With a government that doesn't care for them, indecent living conditions and poverty, you can't blame them." says Pyeatt. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

In this April 27, 1998, photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Lennox McLendon, shows the Aladdin Hotel & Casino comes tumbling down as it is imploded in Las Vegas. The Aladdin, built in 1966, was imploded to make way for the $1.3 billion Aladdin Project, which will be completed in the spring of 2000. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

In this Dec. 1, 1984, photo, pop artist Michael Jackson, center, is shown onstage at opening night of his Victory Tour at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

In this Aug. 18, 1981, photo taken by Associated Press photographer Lennox McLendon, shows U.S. Border Patrol officer Ed Pyeatt, on horseback, leading a group of immigrants who crossed the border without legal permission, down the hillside toward waiting vans for the trip to a holding center at the Chula Vista, Calif., border station. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

Securities specialist assistant Spencer Varian of Wedbush Securities Co., looks dejected as he watches stock prices plunge on his computer terminal, Oct. 19, 1987, in Los Angeles at the Pacific Stock Exchange. The Pacific Exchange was one of many around the world that felt panic as the Dow Jones average plunged more than 500 points. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

In this Feb. 11, 1998, photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Lennox McLendon, shows Internationally known stunt driver Brian Carson of Tarzana, Calif., crossing over the 300-foot marker as he sets a new "auto flight" world record at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Carson shattered his own 298-foot world record with a flight of 314 feet at a speed of 93 mph. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

Comedian Steve Martin left, festooned with mock jewelry and other ornaments, entertains Tonight show host Johnny Carson during a taping of the show at NBC studios in Burbank Calif., July 19, 1980. ( AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

Vice President George Bush (left) gestures while making a point to the panel as Gov. Michael Dukakis watches at right during the second presidential debate on Thursday, Oct. 13, 1988 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

Leon Spinks, right, bobs back on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 1978 evading left jab by champion Muhammad Ali early in title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. "I underestimated him, he is a tough kid", Ali said in his dressing room, after officials awarded the fight, and the title to Spinks. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

Los Angeles Rams defenders Kevin Greene, left, and Shawn Miller react after the New England Patriots quarterback Tony Eason threw a desperation pass in the end zone with time running out to defeat the Rams 30-28, Nov. 16, 1986, in Anaheim. Patriots wide receiver Irving Fryar caught the deflected ball for the win. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

A California Angels fan known as Morganna, runs across the field toward Angels' Fred Lynn to give him a kiss during the first inning in the game with the Chicago White Sox at Anaheim, June 9, 1983. Morganna, on a number of occasions, has run onto the field and kissed different players. She was taken to the Anaheim city police department and booked for trespassing. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

In this June 9, 1982, photo, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Pat Riley, center right, is swamped by fans and players as he and Lakers Mike Cooper leave the court after defeating Philadelphia 76ers 114-104 to win the NBA championship. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

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Text from the AP news story, Veteran, versatile ex-AP photographer ‘Red’ McLendon dies, by John Rogers.