Longtime Yukon sports editor Chuck Reherman passed away Friday night, Aug. 4 in Oklahoma City at age 67.
Chuck loved covering sports and was an award-winning journalist over the course of a career that spanned five decades.
In June, Chuck received the latest of many awards for outstanding sports coverage and photography at the annual Oklahoma Press Association convention.
“Covering sports was his life, and I married him knowing I would never see him at night,” wife Deena Reherman said.
Chuck began his newspaper career in college, then worked in Pryor before spending 15 years with the Sequoyah County Times in Sallisaw. While in Sallisaw, he was track photographer for Blue Ribbon Downs.
He came to Yukon in 1993, working first as managing editor at the Yukon Review then becoming sports editor in 1994 – the year he married Deena who also worked at the paper.
He worked briefly for the Frederick Leader in between stints at the Review. Chuck continued at the Review until 2017 when he joined the Yukon Progress as sports editor.
“The Progress was his favorite job ever,” Deena said.
Chuck was a familiar face on the sidelines and playing field of thousands of Yukon Miller and Southwest Covenant Patriot athletic events over the past 30 years. He was well respected by the coaches, players and parents.
“Chuck was a great guy,” said YHS wrestling coach Joe Schneider. “He definitely had a passion and that was for being the positive light in so many others’ lives.
“He took some great pictures and helped share those special moments in time that are so quickly here and then gone in an instant. He will be missed by so many.”
Southwest Covenant basketball coach Kevin Cobbs said Chuck was “such a good friend” to Southwest Covenant.
“I’ll always be grateful for his desire to promote our athletes and sports programs,” Cobbs said. “He will be greatly missed as a journalist and a personal friend.”
Many of Chuck’s award-winning photos were taken at the annual Yukon FFA Rodeo, which was last weekend at the Round-up Club Arena.
His friend, school journalism/yearbook advisor Erik Jackson, said Chuck’s passing leaves a huge void.
“He loved his job more than anyone I’ll ever know,” Jackson said. “My level of respect for him is beyond imagination. Yukon lost its biggest fan. So thankful to have been his friend.”
Veteran journalist Robert Medley previously was managing editor at the Progress working alongside Chuck.
“Chuck had an amazing eye for photos,” Medley said. “Each photo captured a bit of the drama of sports. And he covered so many games and events and meets.
“Chuck followed not just the athletic competitions of youth but their stages of development and life in the Yukon community. He was a brilliant sports journalist, and his work will be deeply missed.”
Chuck was a huge lifelong Green Bay Packers fan; his bucket list included attending a game at historic Lambeau Field.
“I will get him there somehow,” Deena said.
Chuck loved all sports but was especially drawn to taking rodeo photos. He also loved soccer and was watching the Women’s World Cup while in his hospital bed.
“He had the biggest heart for animals, especially cats,” Deena related. “I called him the cat daddy. I have a million cat photos of him with his ‘herd’.”
His wife expressed her gratitude to everyone for the outpouring of support she has received in recent weeks during Chuck’s illness.
Chuck fought a great fight and we at The Yukon Progress mourn his loss – both as a friend and an outstanding journalist.
Details about a memorial service to celebrate the life and career of Chuck Reherman will be announced later. Arrangements are by Ingram Smith & Turner Mortuary, Yukon.
