Jack Thornell, the legendary Associated Press photographer whose Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph captured a pivotal moment in American civil rights history, passed away Thursday at age 86.
Thornell died at a medical facility in Metairie, a New Orleans-area community, due to complications related to kidney disease.
The photographer’s most famous work showed James Meredith moments after being struck by shotgun fire on a Mississippi roadway in 1966, with Meredith turning to look back at his attacker. This powerful image became one of the most recognizable photographs documenting America’s struggle for racial equality.
During his four-decade career with the Associated Press spanning from 1964 to 2004, Thornell documented a wide range of subjects including political figures, natural catastrophes, and criminal investigations. However, his coverage of the fight for civil rights defined much of his professional legacy, beginning with his very first assignment photographing school integration efforts along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast for the New Orleans AP office.
