Ulish Ray Carter, a longtime managing editor for the New Pittsburgh Courier who impacted many Pittsburgh journalists, has died.

Mr. Carter, 72, died July 12 at his home on the North Side, according to his younger sister, Patricia Ann Carter-Lewis, of Woodstock, Ga.

Mr. Carter spent more than 30 years of his over 40-year career with the renowned Black newspaper, leading the sports, entertainment and metro news sections before he retired as managing editor in March 2017. He was replaced by Robert “Rob” Taylor, the Courier’s current managing editor.

Born in Huntington, Tenn., on July 29, 1950, Mr. Carter spent his formative years in Champaign, Ill., where he played on the basketball team at Centennial High School and graduated in 1969. 

At Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, he majored in journalism/radio-TV and minored in Black history.

In a 2011 interview with the Courier, Mr. Carter said he was fully committed from the beginning to working in Black journalism. After graduation, his job choices were narrowed down to the New Pittsburgh Courier, Baltimore/Washington AFRO and the Chicago Defender. 

He joined the Courier in 1973 as a sportswriter, though he really wanted to write hard news. In sports, Mr. Carter collaborated with future NFL Hall of Famer Bill Nunn Sr. Before he was a scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Nunn created the Pittsburgh Courier Black All American List of premier football players from historically Black colleges and universities. 

After six years in sports and entertainment at the Courier, Mr. Carter transitioned to the metro news desk and became managing editor. He served in that position from 1996 to 2004 and, after a four-year hiatus, from 2008 to 2017. 

Retired Courier sportswriter Eddie Jefferies became sports editor when Mr. Carter was promoted to managing editor.

“Ulish had replaced Bill Nunn, and I followed Ulish. It was a special time at the Courier,” Mr. Jefferies said.

“Ulish was very patient and taught me the intricacies of newspaper layout and design. I’ll always treasure his friendship and our special working relationship. He was very committed to the Black press and just a selfless individual,” said Mr. Jefferies, 76.

Rod Doss, editor and publisher of the New Pittsburgh Courier, called Mr. Carter “the embodiment of a classic Black newspaper man. He was committed to all facets of the publication and to Pittsburgh’s Black community.

“Though I didn’t know much about his personal life, I know he was easy to work with,” Mr. Doss added.

Diane Powell Larche, owner of Atlanta-based Larche Communications, said Mr. Carter was her first editor when she joined the Courier after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh.

“During my time at the Courier, I considered Ulish not only a friend and colleague, but an invaluable mentor,” she said. “He was a committed journalist and that was revealed daily throughout his job as a consummate editorial expert,” 

Arlethia Perry Johnson, a retired strategic communications/marketing manager at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, said Mr. Carter was instrumental in her media career. After graduating from Point Park University, she wrote for the Courier’s new The Entertainer pull-out section, which was created by Mr. Carter.

“Ulish mentored so many of us to become successful journalists. He was truly a visionary, and undeniably instrumental in the Courier’s longevity and its powerful legacy,” said Mrs. Johnson.

Patricia Ann Carter-Lewis said he was a “loving big brother, a quiet giant.

“We all called him Ulish Ray,” she said, smiling.

In addition to journalism, Mr. Carter was a community activist who worked with and volunteered for West End and North Side community groups. 

Ms. Carter-Lewis said her brother suffered from blindness, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

“In the end, it was difficult for him, but he never lost his sense for helping those who were in need – the underdog,” she added.

Mr. Carter, one of eight children, was preceded in death by his father, Steve Bramley, and his mother, Willie Mae Carter Williams. He was once married and was the father of two sons, Joel Carter (deceased) and Derrick Carter. He had six grandchildren. He is also survived by a special friend, Vince Mayfield, also of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Carter had chosen cremation, but the family plans to celebrate his life in a special ceremony sometime next month, his sister said.

Timothy Cox (teacawks2@gmail.com) is a freelance journalist, Point Park University graduate and former entertainment editor of the New Pittsburgh Courier.

First Published: July 21, 2023, 8:06 p.m.
Updated: July 22, 2023, 1:50 a.m.