17 Facts About Al Neuharth

1.

Allen Harold "Al" Al Neuharth was an American businessman, author, and columnist born in Eureka, South Dakota.

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2.

Al Neuharth was the founder of USA Today, The Freedom Forum, and its Newseum.

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3.

Al Neuharth was born in Eureka, South Dakota, to a German-speaking family.

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4.

Al Neuharth graduated from Alpena High School in Alpena, South Dakota, where he worked for Allen Brigham, owner of the local newspaper, the Alpena Journal.

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5.

Al Neuharth started Today in Cocoa, Florida, which eventually became Florida Today.

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6.

Al Neuharth then ran the boardroom under Miller, whom he eventually succeeded in 1973.

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7.

Al Neuharth helped to build Gannett into the largest newspaper company in the United States.

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8.

Al Neuharth founded USA Today in 1982, which as of March 2013 was the third most widely read newspaper in the country.

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9.

Al Neuharth won the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism in 1988, in recognition of his founding of the newspaper.

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10.

Al Neuharth retired from Gannett on March 31, 1989, at the age of 65.

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11.

Al Neuharth served as chairman of the board of the Gannett Foundation upon his retirement.

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12.

Al Neuharth took control of the foundation and removed the CEO and installed his own top executive.

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13.

Al Neuharth served as the chairman of the Freedom Forum from 1991 until his death in 2013.

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14.

Al Neuharth married his second wife, Florida State Senator Lori Wilson, in 1973.

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15.

Al Neuharth married Rachel Fornes, a Cocoa Beach, Florida, chiropractor and they adopted six children.

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16.

Al Neuharth died on Friday, April 19, 2013, at his home in Cocoa Beach, at the age of 89.

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17.

Marsh said that Al Neuharth fell earlier in the week and never quite recovered.

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