L. Edgar Prina, Prize-winning Journalist, Age 95

On May 14, 2013, in Washington, Ed Prina was a prize-winning journalist, served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and Korean War (retired as captain in USNR), and held two Syracuse University degrees. Ed was a retired Washington Bureau Chief in Military Correspondent from Copley News Service. He had been a member of the National Press Club for 58 years. He covered every Secretary of Defense from Forest to Weinberger.

L. Edgar Prina, 95, a former reporter and editorial writer for the old Washington Evening Star who later became Washington bureau chief of Copley News Service, died May 14 at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington.

He had pneumonia, his daughter, Lee-Lee Prina, said.

Mr. Prina came to Washington in 1948 as a correspondent with the New York Sun newspaper. He joined the Star in 1950 and won a number of awards while covering local, national and international news, including the White House.

In 1966, he went to the Washington office of Copley News Service, where he was a military affairs reporter, senior correspondent and bureau chief. He retired after 20 years at the bureau.

Louis Edgar Prina was born in West New York, N.J., and was a 1938 cum laude graduate of Syracuse University in New York, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science. He received a master’s degree in political science from Syracuse in 1940.

Retired Captain USNR

He began his journalism career in Hornell, N.Y. He served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War, and served in the Navy Reserve until 1977, retiring as a captain. From 1961 to 1968, he edited Seapower magazine, published by the Navy League of the United States.

He published a book, “The Political Virgin,” in 1958.

Mr. Prina lived in Washington and was a member of the Church of the Annunciation, a Catholic church in the District. He was a former chairman of the board of governors of the National Press Club and a former president of the D.C. chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He was also a member of the Gridiron Club, Metropolitan Club and Chevy Chase Club.

Attribution: Matt Schudel, washingtonpost.com