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Hank Messick

1922 – 1999

American journalist

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About Hank Messick

Lived 1922 – 1999 (aged 77). Hank Messick was an American journalist.

Henry Hicks Messick (August 14, 1922 – November 6, 1999) was an American investigative journalist and author, specializing in writing about organized crime. He was best known for his biography of Meyer Lansky.

Biography Messick was born in Happy Valley, North Carolina. He received a master's degree from the University of Iowa. He started his journalism career working at several newspapers in North Carolina. From 1957 to 1963 he worked at the Louisville Courier-Journal where he reported on the extensive illegal gambling activities in Newport, Kentucky. From 1963 to 1966 he worked at the Miami Herald, where he investigated police corruption. He briefly worked for the Boston Traveler in 1967, but was fired after investigating the business activities of Joseph Linsey, one of the newspapers' shareholders and a former associate of mobster Charles "King" Solomon. He then worked full-time as an author, writing 19 books. He mostly wrote about organized crime in places outside New York City and Chicago, such as Kentucky, Florida, Bahamas, Cleveland and Hollywood.

He died at his home on 6 November 1999 aged 77 after a long battle with Sjogren's syndrome. He was survived by his wife Faye and three children.

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Frequently asked questions

Who was Hank Messick?

American journalist

When was Hank Messick born?

Hank Messick was born on 14 August 1922.

When did Hank Messick die?

Hank Messick died on 6 November 1999.

What was Hank Messick's occupation?

Hank Messick was a journalist.

What nationality was Hank Messick?

Hank Messick was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Hank Messick

· Wikidata: Q28147558

· DBpedia: Hank Messick

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Hank Messick. https://biography.guide/hank-messick/

MLA: "Hank Messick." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/hank-messick/.

Chicago: "Hank Messick." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/hank-messick/.

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