George R. Hearst, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Hearst Corporation, President of The Hearst Foundation and a Director of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Dead at 84

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jun 26, 2012) - George Randolph Hearst, Jr., chairman of the board of Hearst Corporation, president of The Hearst Foundation and a director of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, died on June 25, 2012, at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif., of complications following a stroke. He was 84.

The oldest grandson of the late William Randolph Hearst, George Hearst, Jr., had been deeply involved with the activities of Hearst Corporation since 1948 and served as a director for more than 53 years. He also served as a trustee of the trust established under the will of William Randolph Hearst.

During his career at Hearst, he served on the staff of the San Francisco Examiner, as publisher of the Los Angeles Examiner, as business manager and publisher of the Los Angeles Evening Herald-Express, publisher of the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner and as vice president of Hearst Corporation and head of its real estate activities.

"George was an enthusiastic supporter of the corporation's growth and diversification strategies," said Frank A. Bennack, Jr., executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of Hearst Corporation. "As chairman of the board, he brought his vast experience and wisdom to bear during a time of incredible growth and helped guide us through periods of enormous change. Although always calling every situation as he saw it, George was the most supportive and steadfast chairman a CEO could possibly have. He will be greatly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of working with him."

Born in San Francisco on July 13, 1927, to George R. Hearst, Sr. and Blanche Wilbur, George Hearst, Jr., had a sincere appreciation for both his family and what the family name represented.

He began his career in private business and joined the staff of the Los Angeles Examiner in 1948. Hearst then moved to the staff of the San Francisco Examiner for two years and joined the Los Angeles Evening Herald-Express where he was named business manager in 1957. By 1958, he was a vice president of Hearst Publishing Co., Inc., a director of Hearst Corporation and a director of The Hearst Foundation. He became publisher of both the Los Angeles Herald-Express and the Los Angeles Examiner in 1960, and ultimately publisher of the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner in 1965.

After serving as vice president of Hearst Corporation and managing its extensive real estate holdings, he succeeded his uncle, Randolph A. Hearst, as chairman of the board in 1996 and served in that capacity until his death.

Hearst also spent nearly 10 years in the military, first enlisting during World War II and serving in the Naval Air Corps, and then serving in the Army during the Korean War, including service as a combat helicopter pilot.

As president of The Hearst Foundation and a director of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Hearst carried on the long-held family tradition of supporting charitable endeavors and giving back to the community. Both foundations are extensively involved in funding educational, medical and cultural activities across the country.

He is survived by his twin sister Phoebe Hearst Cooke; wife Susan and her daughter Jessica Gonzalves and her two children; his three children, George R. Hearst III, Stephen T. Hearst and Erin Hearst Knudsen; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Hearst is predeceased by his oldest child, Mary "Bunny" Hearst Ives, who died in 2004.

Services will be private. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Donations may be made to:

McCloud Healthcare Clinic, Inc.
116 West Minnesota Avenue
P.O. Box 1143
McCloud, CA 96057

OR

Hearst Cancer Resource Center
1941 Johnson Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401