Born in Celina, Ohio, he attended the University of Dayton and started at the Dayton Journal-Herald as an office boy, eventually becoming the vice president and general manager.

He moved to Washington, D.C., in 1950 to work for the Post where he became business manager and then general manager under owner and publisher Phil Graham.

He served as vice chairman of the Washington Post Company from 1968 to 1971.

[1][2][3] He also was a director of the American Security and Trust Company and president of the Community Welfare Council.

He received an honorary degree from Saint Joseph's College, Indiana, in 1969.