A posthumous celebration of constructor Alex F. Black (read obit below for more). Puzzles are available in a zip file.
Crossword-Puzzle Contributor Alex F. Black Dies at 86, Washington Post, May 22, 2005 (abridged)
Alex F. Black, 86, who made his living as a television publicity executive but found creative satisfaction in the highly structured discipline of constructing crossword puzzles, died of pneumonia May 15 at Carriage Hill Bethesda nursing home.
Mr. Black created scores of puzzles for more than 25 years as a freelance contributor to the New York Times and The Washington Post Magazine. He took up pencil and paper about 1973, after working the puzzles in New York newspapers for years. He was neither the most prolific nor the most famous cruciverbalist, but he was consistent, publishing a handful each year until he had to quit several years ago due to illness.
Mr. Black had a certain fame among friends and acquaintances, said his daughter, Victoria Black of Washington. "Everybody calls you up on Sunday morning to say: 'Hey, how are you doing? What's three-across and four-down?'" she said.
Alexander Franklin Black was born in New York and graduated from Brown University. He served in the Navy during World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.
He always loved words and was a prolific writer and reader, said his wife, Irene Black of Washington. He often stayed up late to read novels, historical books and anything about the ocean. He was witty to the end, she said.