Mike Royko

Mike Royko – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life, wit, and legacy of Mike Royko (1932–1997), Chicago’s iconic newspaper columnist. This article covers his background, rise in journalism, signature style, memorable lines, and enduring influence.

Introduction

Mike Royko (Michael Royko Jr., September 19, 1932 – April 29, 1997) was an American newspaper columnist whose sharp wit, fierce independence, and deep identification with working-class Chicago made him one of the most beloved and influential voices in 20th-century journalism. Over a writing career spanning more than 40 years, he produced over 7,500 columns and earned a Pulitzer Prize, earning for himself the reputation of Chicago’s “voice of the people.”

Royko combined humor, moral indignation, and plainspoken critique to examine local politics, civic life, corruption, and the daily struggles of ordinary people. Even today, his work remains an exemplar of urban commentary rooted in place and principle.

Early Life and Family

Royko was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, in a working-class neighborhood above a tavern. His mother, Helen (née Zak), was of Polish descent, and his father, Michael Royko, was of Ukrainian descent.

Growing up in a flat over a bar, Royko was exposed early to the rhythms, voices, and stories of urban life. These surroundings, in a neighborhood with immigrant roots and street-level tensions, shaped his sensibility and gave him a vantage for observing human behavior, power, and injustice at close range.

He attended Wright Junior College briefly, but did not complete a degree, instead entering the U.S. Air Force in 1952.

Path into Journalism

After leaving the Air Force, Royko began working in journalism in Chicago.

In 1959, Royko joined the Chicago Daily News, first as a reporter and later as a columnist.

Royko’s column became a fixture in Chicago life. He wrote with a style that was at once conversational and cutting. He often employed characters—most notably Slats Grobnik, an everyman voice from a Polish tavern—to converse about politics, culture, or current events in a barroom style.

When the Chicago Daily News unexpectedly closed (1978–1980 era), Royko moved to the Chicago Sun-Times, where he continued his column.Chicago Tribune, even though he had previously resisted working there.

Throughout these moves, Royko continued to publish daily, often syndicated beyond Chicago in many American newspapers.

Major Works & Highlights

Pulitzer Prize & Recognition

In 1972, Royko won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, recognizing the consistent sharpness, insight, and moral voice of his columns.

He was honored by the State of Illinois: in 1983 he was named a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln (Illinois’s highest honor) in Communications.

Notable Books

• Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago (1971) — A critical biography of Chicago’s powerful mayor, exposing the workings of the machine politics that dominated the city.

• Collections of his columns—as in One More Time: The Best of Mike Royko—gather his best pieces over decades.

• Other works include Up Against It, I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It, Slats Grobnik and Some Other Friends, Sez Who? Sez Me, Like I Was Sayin’, Dr. Kookie, You’re Right, and Royko in Love: Mike’s Letters to Carol.

Style, Themes & Impact

Royko’s writing was defined by:

• Voice of the “common man”: He rooted his columns in Chicago neighborhoods, speaking to and about ordinary people.

• Moral outrage and satire: He was unafraid to name corruption, call out politicians, and show how power affects citizens.

• Humor and persona: His use of invented dialogue, characters like Slats Grobnik, and conversational tone made serious critique more accessible.

• Local rootedness with national reach: Though centered in Chicago, his columns were syndicated broadly, and his themes often touched national issues.

• Persistence and productivity: Over 42 years, he never missed delivering his perspective—even when dealing with health or personal crises.

Royko’s influence extended beyond journalism. He shaped how Chicagoans thought about their city; contributed to civic conversation; and inspired later generations of urban columnists.

Personal Life & Later Years

Royko married Carol Joyce Duckman in 1954. They had two sons, David and Robert. In the wake of her death, Royko famously paused and wrote to readers a brief column:

“If there’s someone you love but haven’t said so in a while, say it now. Always, always, say it now.”

In 1986, he married Judy Arndt, whom he had known professionally (she was head of the Sun-Times public service office). They had two children together.

Royko remained active until shortly before his death. In April 1997 he was hospitalized following chest pains; he underwent surgery for an aneurysm and died of heart failure on April 29 in Chicago.

Famous Quotes by Mike Royko

Here are several memorable lines from Royko that capture his wit, bite, and compassion:

“I have nothing against what is wrong, if it’s well done.”

“The only thing harder than raising children is raising grandchildren.”

“Political correctness is just hypocrisy with manners.”

“I’ve always believed that nothing good comes easily. If it did, everyone would do it.”

“When poor people work, they are considered industrious — when middle-class people work, they are considered ambitious — when rich people work, they are considered crazy.”

“Journalism is one of the only professions left in which no one ever — ever — says, ‘We’re sorry you made a good living at it.’”

“You find out who your real friends are when you're naked in the gutter.”

These quotes reflect Royko’s worldview: skeptical, observant, and rooted in a sense of justice wrapped in humor.

Legacy & Lessons

The life and work of Mike Royko offer enduring lessons:

1. Be rooted yet fearless
   Royko never lost touch with his local milieu, yet he confronted power, corruption, and injustice without flinching.

2. Speak plainly, but meaningfully
   His style—direct, unpretentious, grounded in human stories—made serious issues accessible to everyday readers.

3. Use humor as a lens, not a shield
   Royko deployed wit not to soften critique but to sharpen it, exposing absurdity in politics and social life.

4. Persist through adversity
   He continued writing through personal tragedy and health challenges, showing that convictions can carry one forward.

5. Write with conscience
   He believed a columnist had a duty to question, hold accountable, and give voice to those often ignored.

Conclusion

Mike Royko was more than a columnist—he was a civic conscience, a moral satirist, and a steward of a city’s stories. Born in 1932 in Chicago, he rose from modest beginnings to become the voice of a city, writing daily for decades, questioning power, and illuminating life’s contradictions with humor and insight.

His legacy continues in the way writers view their responsibility to place and people, and in how readers expect journalism to speak truth to power—plainly, bravely, and with heart.