Scott Newhall | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | October 26, 1992 | (aged 78)
Resting place | San Mateo, California |
Spouse | Ruth Waldo |
Scott Newhall (January 21, 1914 – October 26, 1992) was a newspaper editor known for his stewardship of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Scott Newhall was born on January 21, 1914, into the family that owned the Newhall Land and Farming Company.[1] He grew up in San Rafael, San Francisco, and Berkeley, attending Tamalpais School for Boys, Tamalpais High School, San Rafael Military Academy, and the Webb School of California for boys.[2] In 1933, in the midst of his sophomore year at U.C. Berkeley, he married Ruth Waldo.[1][3]
In 1934, Newhall joined the San Francisco Chronicle as a photographer. By 1952—when the Chronicle's circulation was 155,000, languishing behind those of the San Francisco Examiner and the San Francisco Call-Bulletin—he was promoted from Sunday editor to executive editor, with the goal of increasing circulation, a goal he achieved by enhancing serious news coverage leavened with zany features and a stable of columnists that included "Dear Abby", Arthur Hoppe, Stanton Delaplane, Charles McCabe, "Count Marco",[4] and Herb Caen. By 1965, the Chronicle had surpassed the competition, with a daily circulation of over 363,000. He left the paper in 1971.[5][2][1][6][7]
In 1963, he purchased The Newhall Signal, which he sold in 1978, but continued to edit until 1988.[8]
In 2012, he was inducted into the California Newspaper Hall of Fame.[9]
Main article: Eppleton Hall (1914) |
In 1970, Newhall purchased, refurbished, and sailed from England to San Francisco the 1914 River Tyne paddlewheel tug Eppleton Hall, which was donated to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.[10][11][12][13]
In 1971, Newhall campaigned to become mayor of San Francisco. He came in 5th place, getting 8,704 votes, or 3.44% of total votes cast.[14]
On October 26, 1992, Newhall died at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, which was named after his great-grandfather. He had been suffering from acute pancreatitis. He was 78 years of age.[1]