Title
Charles Henry Land, 1932-2019
Subject
Newspapers
Civic leaders
Land, Charles Henry., 1932-2019
Description
Charles Henry Land, longtime publisher of The Tuscaloosa News, was born in 1932 in Memphis, Tenn., but grew up in Tuscaloosa where he attended local public schools and the University of Alabama. He spent three years in the U.S. Army.
Land spent nearly his entire newspaper career with The Tuscaloosa News, raising the bar on quality community journalism. He became sports editor in 1955 and held that post, save for a few months at a Jacksonville, Fla., newspaper in 1958, until 1970. He became general manager of The News in 1973, editor and associate publisher in 1977, and was named publisher in 1978, succeeding James B. Boone Jr.
He served as president of the Alabama Press Association, president and board member of the APA Journalism Foundation, and on the board of the Southern Newspaper Association.
One of Tuscaloosa’s most active civic leaders, he played significant roles in economic and industrial development during his tenure as publisher and was a staunch supporter of the University of Alabama.
Among his many civic accomplishments, he played a key role in combining the Tuscaloosa and Northport chambers of commerce, serving as chamber president twice and as chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development authority.
An active supporter of UA and a host of civic community endeavors, Charles Land has served as a member and chairman of UA’s President’s Cabinet; member emeritus of the College of Communications’ Board of Visitors; and is a recipient of the prestigious Julia and Henry Tutwiler Award, the Distinguished Service Award from UA’s Communication Alumni Association, and an Honorary Membership in the “A” Club Alumni Association.
He retired from the News to accolades on July 28, 1995; at age 62, he ended almost 40 years in the news business.
As The News’ sports editor, Land had covered more than 100 of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s games. He has the 1961 national championship ring and, according to former editor Don Brown, he could be the only newsman to have one. Brown continued, “Charlie has a passion for excellence and little patience for shoddy work. It showed in the way he managed The News for 17 years as a demanding but fair publisher, and in the leadership he gave to so many sectors in Tuscaloosa County."
Longtime friend and co-worker Jerry Carpenter compared Land’s capacity to be counselor, leader, critic and listen to all sides to the oaks so common to Tuscaloosa, which bend under stress, but seldom break. "As a publisher, he bent, but the tap root never moved. It was right here in the center of this newspaper," Carpenter said at Land’s retirement.
In 2004, he was inducted into the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.
Material from the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama was used in this description. Additional information can be found at :
http://www.tuscaloosachamber.com/living/civic-hall-of-fame/2004-civic-hall-of-fame
Land spent nearly his entire newspaper career with The Tuscaloosa News, raising the bar on quality community journalism. He became sports editor in 1955 and held that post, save for a few months at a Jacksonville, Fla., newspaper in 1958, until 1970. He became general manager of The News in 1973, editor and associate publisher in 1977, and was named publisher in 1978, succeeding James B. Boone Jr.
He served as president of the Alabama Press Association, president and board member of the APA Journalism Foundation, and on the board of the Southern Newspaper Association.
One of Tuscaloosa’s most active civic leaders, he played significant roles in economic and industrial development during his tenure as publisher and was a staunch supporter of the University of Alabama.
Among his many civic accomplishments, he played a key role in combining the Tuscaloosa and Northport chambers of commerce, serving as chamber president twice and as chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development authority.
An active supporter of UA and a host of civic community endeavors, Charles Land has served as a member and chairman of UA’s President’s Cabinet; member emeritus of the College of Communications’ Board of Visitors; and is a recipient of the prestigious Julia and Henry Tutwiler Award, the Distinguished Service Award from UA’s Communication Alumni Association, and an Honorary Membership in the “A” Club Alumni Association.
He retired from the News to accolades on July 28, 1995; at age 62, he ended almost 40 years in the news business.
As The News’ sports editor, Land had covered more than 100 of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s games. He has the 1961 national championship ring and, according to former editor Don Brown, he could be the only newsman to have one. Brown continued, “Charlie has a passion for excellence and little patience for shoddy work. It showed in the way he managed The News for 17 years as a demanding but fair publisher, and in the leadership he gave to so many sectors in Tuscaloosa County."
Longtime friend and co-worker Jerry Carpenter compared Land’s capacity to be counselor, leader, critic and listen to all sides to the oaks so common to Tuscaloosa, which bend under stress, but seldom break. "As a publisher, he bent, but the tap root never moved. It was right here in the center of this newspaper," Carpenter said at Land’s retirement.
In 2004, he was inducted into the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.
Material from the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama was used in this description. Additional information can be found at :
http://www.tuscaloosachamber.com/living/civic-hall-of-fame/2004-civic-hall-of-fame
Creator
The Tuscaloosa News
Source
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama
Publisher
The Tuscaloosa News
Date
Mid 1980's
Contributor
Betty Slowe (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
862
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph
Physical Dimensions
5 inches by 7 inches