The Day joins in congratulating retired Editorial Page Editor Morgan McGinley upon his most deserving induction into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame. For a quarter century, until his retirement in 2007, Mr. McGinley's insightful observations and pointed criticisms graced these editorial pages.

The formal induction ceremony is scheduled to take place tonight in Boston.

Mr. McGinley, 70, prided himself on constructing his commentary on a frame of strong reporting. Those about to get a sharp linguistic elbow in an editorial or in one of Mr. McGinley's columns could expect a phone call first and every chance to make their case. His commentary was always about the topics at hand and never personal. Mr. McGinley was particularly zealous in arguing for the importance of open government, in 2001 winning the Stephen A. Collins Freedom of Information Award from the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information. He remains active with that group.

Always genial, quick at making friends and great at remembering names, Mr. McGinley knows how to get people to share their stories and that made him a great reporter. Even those subjected to his editorial critiques could have trouble staying mad at him.

Before taking over the opinion desk at The Day, Mr. McGinley, a New London native, worked 17 years as a reporter and editor at the newspaper. He is also a member of the Connecticut Journalism Hall of Fame. In 1998 he served as president of the National Conference of Editorial Writers (now the Association of Opinion Journalists).

The Day and its readers were fortunate to have such a great journalist serving the community for so long.