Former Press publisher dies

W.C. “Bill” King, retired newspaper publisher and previous owner of The Power County Press, died Sunday, March 31, 2013 at his home in Tucson, AZ. He was 87, and he was born in Scott City, KS, on May 16, 1925.

King began a lifetime newspaper career while in high school at his hometown newspaper, the News Chronicle, in Scott City, KS. He continued in the publishing field while serving in the Navy during WWII. Following his naval service he attended college at Ft. Hays State University in Hays, KS. He earned his journalism degree at the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO. After college he was employed as an advertising salesman for the Junction City, KS Daily Union and also as an advertising manager for the Daily Tribune in Pratt, KS.

In 1951 he and Clara Rahjes, who he met in college, were married. King and his wife Clara purchased their first newspaper, The Power County Press in American Falls, ID, in 1954, later selling it to Robert and Erma Crompton in November of 1959. The Kings went on to own newspapers in Tucumcari, NM; Golden, CO; Idaho Springs, CO; Summit County, CO; Leadville, CO; and Gunnison, CO. They also owned newspapers in Payson, AZ; Chandler, AZ; and Libby, MT.

King was an active member of various state press associations and served for many years as a director of the National Newspaper Association headquartered in Washington, DC. He was active in many service organizations, was a member of the Presbyterian Church for over 60 years and was a member of the Rotary Club for over 30 years.

He is survived by his five daughters: Christa King, Sara King, Shawn King, Lori Jencks, and Jan Ross of Denver; his son Bart King and daughter-in-law Lisa King of Tucson; and son Scott King of Denver. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Nora Jencks, Parker Ross, Emma King and Grace Jencks.

A memorial service will be held at Mountain Shadows Presbyterian Church on Saturday, April 13, at 2 p.m. The service will be conducted by the Reverend Rachel Srubas.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the following organizations, which he supported: Mountain Shadows Presbyterian Church, 14240 N. Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85739 or Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, (Earmarked-Splendido Endowed Scholarship Fund for Bill King), 13500 Rancho Vistoso Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85755.

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