(photo from Facebook posted by Chuck Ferrara)

Chicago newsman Carlos Hernandez Gomez was often a young man in old man's clothes --1950s horn-rimmed eye glasses, an throwback Fedora, skinny tie and a full-length rain coat.
Carlos had an encyclopedic knowledge of Chicago corruption history and keen political insights that he loved to share whether he was on the radio, TV or a bar stool at the Billy Goat Tavern.
He knew all the players in Chicago politics and more importantly they knew him. They respected him, too. Carlos earned it.
On Sunday, Ol' Carlito died too young. At 36, he lost a brutal battle with cancer.
President Obama had this to say, ""He was a throwback in the style of Chicago's storied political reporters. He loved Chicago, and he relentlessly sought to tell its story with the commitment to truth and the insatiable curiosity that any good reporter has to have. I quickly learned that when you saw his sharp fedora in a crowd, hard questions were coming. But Carlos always played it straight. And I always enjoyed our interactions in Springfield, Chicago, or on the campaign trail. Carlos was a role model to many, and an integral part of the Chicago story he strived to tell."
That's the kind of impression he made on a lot of people.
Simply put, Carlos was tough, talented and funny as hell.
I'll always remember his late-night impressions of the late John Stroger former State Senate President Emil Jones that would always made me spit my beer on the floor at the Goat Tavern. And I'll remember all the "off-the-record" talks we had over cold ones. Those were special.
CarlosHernandezGomez (say it in one breath) was a true Chicago character, a solid reporter and an even better friend to so many people. I'll miss you buddy.

Carlos was a huge Beatles fan. On Monday morning, I gave this song a spin on the record player and thought about our friend. It's a cover of George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" by Jim James (Yim Yames) of My Morning Jacket. Give a listen. Think of Carlito. He was one of the good ones.