If It Didn't Suck....

Evan Hunter wrote Blackboard Jungle, as well as other novels in his prolific writing career, many of you may know him better by his other name; Ed McBain. Born in New York in 1926 as Salvatore A. Lombino, he had his named changed in 1952 to Evan Hunter.

the following is from http://www.mysterynet.com/mcbain/:
He created a world of cops and crooks and characters that have stood the test of time.
The first, "Cop Hater" (1956), introduced the famous members of the 87th precinct, set in the fictional city of Isola. Steve Carella, Meyer Meyer, Andy Parker, and the other hard-working precinct cops are usually seen tackling several cases simultaneously and have remained ageless over the course of four decades. This was necessary, according to McBain, because, he says, "If I hadn't done that, I'd now have a precinct of doddering old men." (Great Detectives)

Shows like Hill Street and countless movies of the genre were influenced by his writing. There will be a void in the genre now that I feel cannot be filled in the near, or distant future. You will be missed.