thumb|Six men and four women stand together on the steps for a photo. Women in picture, left to right: Winifred Black, unidentified woman, Hulda H. Williams (Mrs. Walter Williams), unidentified woman. Men, from left to right: unknown, unknown, unknown, Ovid Bell, Caspar Yost, Walter Williams (mostly obscured by Mrs. Williams). The State Historical Society of Missouri.
Casper Salathiel Yost (1864–1941) was the longtime editor of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, a poet and an honored journalist.
Early life
Yost was born in Sedalia, Missouri on July 1, 1854. His parents were George Casper Yost and Sarah Elizabeth Roberts Yost. Yost helped create the organization to enhance "the integrity of the profession" in response to criticism that journalism was only for entertainment and profits. After Frederick Allen's critique of the integrity of jazz-age journalists in the January 1922 issue of Atlantic Monthly, Yost called a meeting of like minded editors which lead to the creation of ASNE. In a letter to his wife, Anna, Yost wrote that creating ASNE was "the greatest thing ever done for journalism."
Yost was also a prominent member of the St. Louis Civitan Club, serving as president of the board of governors for many years before his death.
Accolades
As well as writing for newspapers, Yost was also a poet. One of his poems, "Our Destiny", became well known after President McKinley quoted it in one of his speeches. Yost also received academic honorary degrees from Lincoln Memorial University in 1926, McKendree College in 1926, and the University of Missouri in 1934. In 1940, he received a Doctor of Literature degree from Culver-Stockton. In 1936, Yost was given the national award for Scholarship in Journalism from Sigma Delta Chi, a national journalism fraternity. Yost was invited to attend Curran's sessions with Patience Worth and soon became an editor of Worth's messages and an advocate for channeling the spirit. At times, Worth generated 2,000 words per hour.
Yost spurred curiosity amongst Globe readers by publishing stories such as "The Fool and the Lady" and "The Stranger," both published in February 1915. Other books by Yost include The Carpenter of Nazareth, In Quest of God, and Patience Worth, Revisited.
Personal life
Casper Yost was married to Anna Augusta Parrott Yost. He was seventy-seven years old.