The word legend is thrown around with reckless abandon in our industry, but there are times we lose someone who deserves the label. Mike Boyd was such a person.
Everybody in Sacramento knew him. He seemed to show up prominently in every shot of attorneys walking out of court during a big case, and every police soundbite from a crime scene, including the competitions, much to their chagrin. Yes, Boyd learned more than a few tricks during his 38 years at KCRA, Ch. 3. He retired in 2001, and died on October 16, 2006, at age 74.
Of the thousands of stories Boyd reported at Ch. 3, two stand out as truly legendary, and will be talked about in newsrooms bygenerations of journalists to come.
There was the time he interviewed mass murderer Charles Manson in his prison cell. Boyd stuck the microphone between the bars of the cell, while Manson, in full vintage Manson form, ranted by firing Boyd's questions back at him. Finally, Boyd looked Manson squarely in the eyes and said sternly, I'm the one who's asking you!
Can you imagine challenging Charles Manson like that? asked Ron Middlekauff, a KCRA photographer and longtime friend of Boyd. I talked to Mike about his Manson interview, and it was incredible. At one point, (guards) brought in Mansons dinner, and Manson says, Let this guy eat it. And then Mike brings out the Manson book (Helter Skelter), and Manson grabs it away from him and autographs it. But his biggest scoop came in 1988, when KCRA chartered a jet to fly Boyd down to southern California to interviewnotorious F Street murderer Dorothea Puente. There were no other commercial flights scheduled that night, so some Sacramento deputies asked if they could tag along.The deputies ended up bringing Puente back to Sacramento with them on that privateplane and Mike interviewed her exclusively. Adding insult to injury, the competition had no idea what was unfolding. Rival reporters learned Puente was back in Sacramento and that Boyd had the exclusive interview with her, by watching it all on televisions in the Sacramento airport boarding area the next morning, as they were waiting for the first flight out to L.A.
One of the greatest compliments another reporter could ever receive was besting Boyd on a story, and having him come up to you the next day and say You kicked my butt. Co-workers and competitors alike will miss that fire and drive, as well as countless other qualities that put Boyd on top, forever.