Family and friends relish memories of Hinshaw

By Susan Shinn Turner

Photojournalist Wayne Hinshaw, who died Jan. 14, had two passions: sports and photography. For 53 years, he combined those passions in his work at the Salisbury Post. He shot a sports assignment as recently as November.

You could argue that Wayne had another passion: the art of conversation.

Former colleagues chuckle about the fact that when you were on assignment with Wayne, you had to count on the conversation continuing for at least 30 more minutes in the car once you got back to the paper.

A former Post photographer recalled that he was tired and ready to go home one afternoon, but that he and Wayne talked outside for at least 30 minutes at his car before he could get away.

Wayne was truly one-of-a-kind. He probably shot every subject and every person in Rowan County during his long career — or at least one member of every family.

A few stories came in after my deadline on Monday for the two stories I wrote about Wayne for Tuesday’s paper, and I wanted to share them with you.

The late Raymond “Junior” Austin invited Wayne to go squirrel hunting for the first time. Wayne pushed Junior’s wheelchair across a pasture and hit the edge of a cow patty on the way to the woods.

“Park me here,” Junior said. He loaned Wayne a gun and gave him four shells. He said, “You walk down that way and see if you can find any squirrels.”

Some time later, Wayne returned with three squirrels. He told Junior, “By the way, here is the shell I didn’t use!”

Yes, that was my brother, and I will miss him.

— Gary Hinshaw of Randleman, longtime commercial photographer

I mainly was around him when I was doing Football Friday Nights for WBTV. I shot and edited the games and usually stood and talked with him as we worked the games. He was funny, and always helpful. If I would miss a play for whatever reasons, he’d let me shoot one of his stills, and sometimes I’d use one in my story just because they were so good.

We would talk anytime I would see him around town. His work was top notch and I always respected him for his ability to get “the shot.”

— David Whisenant of Salisbury, recently retired Salisbury bureau chief for WBTV

In 2002, there was a severe drought in the Piedmont. I saw a TV report about a church in Guilford County trying to reconstruct its original cemetery rock wall, but church members didn’t know the dimensions.

Thanks to the drought, gravesites showed up and the church was able to identify the cemetery boundaries. This got me to thinking about Union Lutheran Church, as we have a large area where there are no markers but no one can be buried in the area, as it is known there were graves present. I went to the church, camera in hand, and was amazed at the rows of green patches of grass that showed up.  You could even distinguish between an adult and a child’s grave. Row after row, neatly spaced.

I called the Post. They sent Wayne Hinshaw, and he shot mega pictures. My vivid memory is of him standing in the cemetery, camera in hand, saying, “Never seen anything like this.” And I am sure he saw a lot.

This is an unforgettable memory.

— Dawn Merrell of Salisbury, longtime member of Union Lutheran Church

Freelance writer Susan Shinn Turner lives in Raleigh. She had the privilege of working with Wayne Hinshaw for many years as a full-time employee and freelance writer for the Post.