Through the Lens of History: Ron Edmonds' Iconic Moments

Associated Press photographer Ron Edmonds, who passed away at 77, captured history through his iconic images during his 28 years covering the White House, including the assassination attempt on President Reagan in 1981. His work earned him a Pulitzer Prize, distinguishing his remarkable career in photojournalism.

Associated Press photographer Ron Edmonds, whose career spanned 28 years covering the White House, passed away at 77 in Virginia. Among his notable achievements, Edmonds captured the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981, seizing a series of images that became iconic.

Edmonds' career-defining moment occurred when John Hinckley Jr. fired a revolver at Reagan and his entourage outside a Hilton hotel. Edmonds, perfectly positioned, snapped photos across Reagan's limousine roof as the president was struck and hurriedly pushed into the vehicle. This momentous coverage earned Edmonds the Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography.

Reflecting on his career, Edmonds acknowledged his path to photojournalism traced back to a photography class in 1968, inspired by a college professor. He continued to cover significant events and figures, eventually becoming the AP's senior White House photographer before his retirement in 2009.