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Williston, Vt. — Local journalist Mal Boright died at home on Friday, March 18, 2016, at age 81. Mal was a popular sports writer, news writer, columnist, and managing editor at several prominent Vermont newspapers including the Newport Daily Express, the Rutland Herald, the Valley News in N.H., and the Burlington Free Press, where he covered both sports and news. He served as sports director and returned as news director at Channel 22 (ABC) TV from 1979-1982. Mal contributed to WDEV Radio for nearly 30 years, hosting the popular daily segment “The Swami”, and in recent years co-hosting “The Kid and The Geezer”. Mal had a wonderfully unique sense of humor, which he enjoyed sharing with his viewers and listeners.

Mal was a 1952 graduate of Newport High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1957, and studied at the University of Maryland, the U.S. Armed Forces Institute, and at Nathaniel Hawthorne College.

An avid basketball enthusiast throughout his life, Mal coached at Newport Sacred Heart High School and at Colchester High School. He played for the Border Bandits adult league, became a board certified basketball official, and played in three US Senior Basketball Olympics.

Mal’s talent for journalism and passion for sports earned him many honors. He has been honored as Sportswriter of the Year by The Vermont Press Association, where he also served as president. He was inducted into the Vermont Principals Association Hall of Fame in 2012, and was a 2014 inductee into the Orleans-Northern Essex County (NEK) Athletic Hall of Fame.

Retirement did not slow him down. Starting in 2004, he served as sports correspondent for the Williston Observer, where he faithfully covered the Champlain Valley Union High School teams, and contributed political commentary as well. Mal will be missed by many in the community.

He leaves his wife, Annie Mitchell and his family: Andy Boright of Piermont, N.H., Barry and Stephanie Boright of Lewes, Del., Charles and Arlene Boright of Alpine, Calif., Wendy Boright of White River Junction, Vt., Clarence (C.A.) Boright of South Burlington, Vt.; and step-daughters, Jessica and Brooke Mitchell; as well as his dear grandchildren, Sydney, Gabrielle, Krista, Nicholas, and Olivia.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 2 at the Old Brick Church in the center of Williston village on Route 2. Parking is available behind the building, and can be accessed from Library Lane.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Mal’s name to the Jimmy V. Foundation for cancer research.