The Daily Times

Former Daily Times Publisher Freddie “Max” Crotser, who served from February 1994 until his retirement in August 2010, died Monday at the family home in Maryville after battling cancer for several months. He was 71.

“This is a very sad day for all of us who knew and loved Max,” said Peter Horvitz, who was owner of The Daily Times during Crotser’s tenure. "He loved The Daily Times, every one of its employees and the citizens of Blount County. I had the pleasure of working very closely with Max for over 15 years and he was a wonderful newspaper publisher and a great man.”

Upon learning of Crotser’s death, Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell said, “Max enjoyed people and it showed. He always made you feel comfortable and welcome when you were with him. No one worked any harder than Max, but he was always quick to smile and laugh with you. I always found it very interesting to sit and spend time talking to Max. He was my friend and I will miss him.”

Crotser was an avid baseball fan, having played for the University of Illinois from 1959-1961. After graduating from college and a brief minor league baseball career, he began his newspaper career in 1964 with the Gannett Co. in Danville, Ill.

He later held advertising management positions in Binghamton, N.Y., Rochester, N.Y., and Marion, Ind., for Gannett through 1984. He left to become president and general manager of the Suburban Journals West County Publications in St. Louis, and later become general manager of The Quincy (Ill.) Herald-Whig from April 1989 until January 1994.

While leading The Daily Times, Crotser served on a number of community boards, foundations and campaigns, including United Way of Blount County, Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Blount County Education Foundation and Maryville College Community Campaign in Blount County.

As news of Crotser’s death spread on The Daily Times’ Facebook page, words of remembrances and condolences followed:

Maryville Mayor Tom Taylor: “Max could be relied up to expend his highest level of energy to every worthwhile project within the city as a civic leader and as the publisher of The Daily Times. He maintained that his job as publisher was not only to report the news but also to make Maryville a better city. As a journalist, he displayed a rare combination of frankness, compassion and integrity while honestly attempting to present a balanced viewpoint of every issue. Max will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all residents of the City of Maryville.”

Alcoa Mayor Don Mull: “I considered him a dear friend and a great publisher. He contributed a lot to our community and will be greatly missed.”

Paul Bales, longtime chairman of the Empty Pantry Fund: “Max had a big huge, very caring heart. Every year he always said, ‘Anything that The Times can do for this project, don’t ask, just do it.’ ... We’ll all miss

him. I really do hate it.”

Michelle Hankes, president and CEO of United Way of Blount County: “Max was a believer that if you work and live in a community, it was also your responsibility to make it better. He was a strong supporter of United Way, and for that I am very grateful, but I think my fondest memories of him were those unscheduled moments, running into Max at Kroger ... when I had my young children with me. He always spoke directly to them, made a few baseball jokes with Keegan, pulled a penny out of Rory’s ear, then asked them to take good care of their mom. He was just that kind of person who cared.”

Herb Handly, executive vice president for tourism at Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau: “I thought when he came in (as publisher) that he had the right personality at the time to run the newspaper in a way that we’re used to. He just fit right in with the community.”

Bryan Daniels, president and CEO of the Blount Partnership: “He was a friendly soul who was a great promoter of the Blount County community. We always enjoyed his stories of being a professional baseball player and how much he enjoyed that time of his life. We extend our condolences to his family and friends during this time.”

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Smith Funeral & Cremation Service.

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