The University of South Dakota is reporting that U-S-D graduate and “U-S-A Today” founder Al Neuharth has died. The Eureka native graduated from the University in 19-50, and owned several newspapers before founding what was called “The Nation’s Newspaper,” U-S-A Today, in the 19-80s. In 2003, a donation from Neuharth led to creation of the Media Center on the Vermillion Campus that bears his name.
The director of the Al Neuharth Media Center, Jack Marsh, visits with South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s Gary Ellenbolt about Neuharth's life and career.
Neuharth also created the “Al Neuharth Media Award for Excellence in Journalism,” which over the years has gone to journalism veterans such as Walter Cronkite, Bob Schieffer (SHEE-fir), and Don Hewitt. Neuharth died today (Friday) at age 89. A Celebration of Neuharth’s life and career will take place at U-S-D at a later date.