He was a World War II Marine combat veteran, where he shot bomb damage pictures of South Pacific island caves.

In 1979, he helped cover the nation's worst nuclear power accident at Three Mile Island.

[2] [3] On January 22, 1987, Vathis went to the Pennsylvania State Capitol to cover then-Treasurer of Pennsylvania R. Budd Dwyer's expected resignation speech the day before Dwyer was to be sentenced for bribery crimes he had been convicted of the month prior.

Dwyer maintained his innocence of the crime and claimed he was a victim of political persecution.

After a 30-minute speech, Dwyer handed out envelopes to his staffers before grabbing an envelope and producing a .357 Magnum revolver and shooting himself through his mouth, killing him instantly, in front of his staffers and the gathered press, including Vathis.