Allen Harold "Al" Neuharth (March 22, 1924 – April 19, 2013) was an American businessman, author, and columnist born in Eureka, South Dakota. He was the founder of USA Today, The Freedom Forum, and its Newseum. Early life Al Neuharth was born in Eureka, South Dakota, to a German-speaking family. Neuharth's parents were Daniel J. and Christina, who married on January 11, 1922. Daniel died when Al was two. Al needed to help his family survive the Great Depression. He worked on his grandfather's farm. As a youngster, he also delivered the Minneapolis Tribune but he gave that up for a better paying job in the meat industry, sweeping up in the meat plants and slaughtering animals. Neuharth graduated from Alpena High School in Alpena, South Dakota, where he worked for Allen Brigham, owner of the local newspaper, the Alpena Journal. At the age of 19, Neuharth served in the Army during World War II. As a member of the 86th Infantry Division, Neuharth was deployed to France, Germany, and the Philippines. Education After the war, Neuharth attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where he edited the school newspaper, The Volante. He maintained an affiliation with the university and had an office in the Media & Journalism building, the Al Neuharth Media Center, until his death in 2013. Neuharth founded the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship, which is awarded to graduating high school students who exemplify the qualities of a "free spirit" and aim to pursue a career in journalism. News career Neuharth and fellow USD alum Bill Porter founded SoDak Sports, a weekly newspaper devoted to covering the sports scene in South Dakota. Despite its initial popularity, the weekly SoDak Sports went bankrupt in a year's time, losing Neuharth the $50,000 he had borrowed.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“The saddest people I know are those who have spent thirty or forty years working for the same employer doing something they almost like.”
— Courage Is a Three Letter Word (New York: Random House, 1986), p. 132
“In my book, an S.O.B. is someone who uses whatever tactics it takes to get the job done—to rise to the top.”
— The Quotable Tycoon: An Irreverent Collection Of Brutally Honest And Inspirational Business Wisdom (Naperville: Sourcebooks, 2004), p. 86
“The difference between a mountain and a molehill is your perspective.”
— Confessions of an S.O.B. (New York: Doubleday, 1989), p. 67
“Eat only when you are hungry. Drink only when you’re thirsty. Sleep only when you’re tired. Screw only when you’re horny.”
— Confessions of an S.O.B. (New York: Doubleday, 1989), p. 288
“Ideas are harder to promote than products or personalities.”
— Free Spirit (Arlington: Newseum Books, 2000), p. 48
“We in the media could help [the insurance situation] if we put in proper perspective long range hurricane forecasts that often are exaggerated and play into insurers’ hands.”
— "Getting blown away," Florida Today, November 30, 2007

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

Allen Harold "Al" Neuharth (March 22, 1924 – April 19, 2013) was an American businessman, author, and columnist born in Eureka, South Dakota. He was the founder of USA Today, The Freedom Forum, and its Newseum.

Overview

Allen Harold "Al" Neuharth (March 22, 1924 – April 19, 2013) was an American businessman, author, and columnist born in Eureka, South Dakota. He was the founder of USA Today, The Freedom Forum, and its Newseum. Early life Al Neuharth was born in Eureka, South Dakota, to a German-speaking family. Neuharth's parents were Daniel J. and Christina, who married on January 11, 1922. Daniel died when Al was two. Al needed to help his family survive the Great Depression. He worked on his grandfather's farm. As a youngster, he also delivered the Minneapolis Tribune but he gave that up for a better paying job in the meat industry, sweeping up in the meat plants and slaughtering animals. Neuharth graduated from Alpena High School in Alpena, South Dakota, where he worked for Allen Brigham, owner of the local newspaper, the Alpena Journal. At the age of 19, Neuharth served in the Army during World War II. As a member of the 86th Infantry Division, Neuharth was deployed to France, Germany, and the Philippines. Education After the war, Neuharth attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where he edited the school newspaper, The Volante. He maintained an affiliation with the university and had an office in the Media & Journalism building, the Al Neuharth Media Center, until his death in 2013. Neuharth founded the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship, which is awarded to graduating high school students who exemplify the qualities of a "free spirit" and aim to pursue a career in journalism. News career Neuharth and fellow USD alum Bill Porter founded SoDak Sports, a weekly newspaper devoted to covering the sports scene in South Dakota. Despite its initial popularity, the weekly SoDak Sports went bankrupt in a year's time, losing Neuharth the $50,000 he had borrowed.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“The saddest people I know are those who have spent thirty or forty years working for the same employer doing something they almost like.”
— Courage Is a Three Letter Word (New York: Random House, 1986), p. 132
“In my book, an S.O.B. is someone who uses whatever tactics it takes to get the job done—to rise to the top.”
— The Quotable Tycoon: An Irreverent Collection Of Brutally Honest And Inspirational Business Wisdom (Naperville: Sourcebooks, 2004), p. 86
“The difference between a mountain and a molehill is your perspective.”
— Confessions of an S.O.B. (New York: Doubleday, 1989), p. 67
“Eat only when you are hungry. Drink only when you’re thirsty. Sleep only when you’re tired. Screw only when you’re horny.”
— Confessions of an S.O.B. (New York: Doubleday, 1989), p. 288
“Ideas are harder to promote than products or personalities.”
— Free Spirit (Arlington: Newseum Books, 2000), p. 48
“We in the media could help [the insurance situation] if we put in proper perspective long range hurricane forecasts that often are exaggerated and play into insurers’ hands.”
— "Getting blown away," Florida Today, November 30, 2007