Possibly the longest-serving news executive in Southern California is retiring from City News Service after 40 years at the nation’s largest regional wire service, CNS announced May 4.

Yet Lock

Yet Lock, CNS executive vice president, held that post since the beginning of 1972. He previously worked for Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty.

“Through all these years, Yet Lock has managed to remain the ‘gentleman news executive,’” said CNS Editor Lori Streifler. “He has always related to the hundreds of CNS subscribers and literally thousands of CNS staff members through the years in a cordial, collegial manner.

“At the same time, Yet managed to be effective and highly successful in a key role that helped CNS grow into the professional and trusted wire service that it is today.”

Streifler added that Lock “will be greatly missed by all of us at CNS. We wish him the greatest future in retirement in Florida.”

One of the founders of East West Players, Lock is a long-time member of the Asian American Journalists Association, a national organization that was established in Los Angeles in 1981, and has been active with the L.A. chapter’s annual Trivia Bowl.