Former Spokesman-Review sports editor Joe Palmquist dies at 66

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Sep 1, 2026, 2:01 AM

Last updated Sep 1, 2026

Summary

Joe Palmquist, the former longtime sports editor and managing editor for The Spokesman-Review, died Saturday following a battle with severe lung disease. He was 66 years old. Palmquist spent 33 years at the newspaper, leading the sports department for 14 years before his promotion to managing editor in 2017. During his tenure, he guided coverage of local sports programs including Gonzaga basketball and Washington State football. He retired from the publication in 2021. Colleagues remembered Palmquist for his mentorship, his role in navigating the transition to digital media, and his dedication to the newspaper's editorial standards throughout his three-decade career.

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By the Numbers
  • Joe Palmquist died Saturday from complications related to a lung disease.
  • He served as The Spokesman-Review sports editor from 2003 until 2017.
  • Palmquist was promoted to managing editor in 2017 and retired in 2021.
  • He spent a total of 33 years working at The Spokesman-Review.
Latest Updates
  • 2:01 AMYahoo SportsA friend, a colleague and the best guy we know: Saying goodbye to Joe Palmquist | Ralph Walter
What they're saying
"

Aug. 31—The Spokesman-Review lost a legend over the weekend. For many of us, we lost even more — an unforgettable friend and mentor. When news broke Saturday afternoon that Joe Palmquist — a former longtime sports editor and managing editor at the S-R — had lost his battle to a severe lung disease possibly related to a bone marrow transplant nearly a year ago, tributes and photos flowed back ...

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