Newly appointed White House spokesman Tony Snow is best known as a conservative news commentator, most recently on Fox News. But in Cincinnati, his hometown, friends remember him as one of their most liberal classmates, a teenager with "large hair" past his shoulders, a quick mind and a compassionate streak.
James Culley, a friend since seventh grade, said Snow was articulate even in middle school.
"In junior high, we would do debating in history class," said Culley, a music professor at the University of Cincinnati. "Tony was one of these people who could ... quickly throw together glib and articulate arguments for either side of an issue.
"I think he's really in good shape ... to be a friend to the press in this administration."
Culley remembers a survey his English class did to rate students' political leanings. "Tony was ranked by far the most liberal one of the 25 kids," Culley said.
Tony Snow, the new White House press secretary, using the Princeton High School public-address system in 1973.
Culley described Snow as popular, down-to-earth and funny.
"He wasn't the class clown, but you could always get Tony to tell stories," Culley said.
"He was very interested in all the human sides of what we were doing in school at the time. It didn't surprise me when he wound up in print and on TV."
Snow, 50, has written for USA Today and hosted TV news shows and nationally syndicated radio shows. He once called Bush "something of an embarrassment" and the architect of a "listless domestic policy."
Snow said: "I've written some critical stuff. When you're a columnist, you're going to criticize, and you're going to praise."
Robert Anthony Snow was born in Berea, Ky. When he was 2, his family moved to Cincinnati, where his father, James Allen Snow, was a Cincinnati public schoolteacher and assistant principal at Loveland High School.
In 1960, the Snow family settled in Springdale and attended the Princeton schools. He graduated in 1973 from Princeton High School, where he was a member of the tennis team, student government, the marching and concert bands and president of the honor society.
Snow was among a group of students who took classes together throughout middle and high school. Today, they'd be considered gifted, said George Stump, his now-retired English teacher.
In 1977, Snow received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Davidson College in North Carolina. He did graduate studies in philosophy and economics at the University of Chicago and began his journalism career as an editorial writer for the Greensboro (N.C.) Record in 1979.
While writing columns for the Detroit News and USA Today in 1994, Snow dabbled in broadcasting as a substitute host on Rush Limbaugh's syndicated radio show. He hosted "Fox News Sunday" from 1996 to 2003. His national radio show premiered two years ago.
"He's a guy who hasn't forgotten where he's from, ever," said Dirk Allen, another friend from junior and senior high schools, now a spokesman at Badin High School in Hamilton.
Even after not seeing him for years, when you see him, "it's just like you saw him last week," Allen said.
Snow, a colon cancer survivor, has been open about battling his disease. But he's more interested in talking with friends about their lives and struggles than discussing his own, said Robyn Carey Allgeyer, a high school classmate, now spokeswoman for Princeton City schools.
Snow still listens to WLW-AM (700) and on Wednesday mornings banters with radio show host Jim Scott about the day's news.
Scott describes Snow as "an awfully regular guy" who's approachable.
"I don't think he's an over-the-edge conservative. I think he thinks for himself," Scott said.
The Associated Press contributed.