LOS ANGELES -- David Whitmire Hearst, son of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and a newspaper publisher in his own right, died Monday of cancer. He was 70.
Hearst was one of five sons of the famed newspaper publisher who founded The Hearst Corp., at one time the most influential newspaper publishing company in the country. His twin brother, Randolph, is chairman of the board of The Hearst Corp.
At the time of his death at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Hearst was vice president and director of The Hearst Corp. and president of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. During a 50-year career, he held several important positions in the Hearst empire, including 10 years as publisher of the defunct Los Angeles Evening Herald-Express.
He began his career in 1936 as a reporter on the police and city hall beats for the New York Journal-American. He then moved to the Baltimore News-Post, where he served as assistant advertising director. Later, he returned to the editorial desk as the News-Post's city editor.
In 1938, he joined the Los Angeles Evening Herald-Express, where he began a stay that lasted more than 20 years. He started as a member of the advertising department, then served successively as business manager, general manager and executive publisher.
Hearst was promoted once again in 1950, when at the age of 34 he became the paper's publisher, succeeding Dr. Frank F. Barham, who had managed the paper for 28 years. He held the post of publisher until 1960.
After leaving the Herald-Express, he remained a leader in the Hearst Corp., serving as vice president and a member of the board of directors. He also directed two foundations that carried the family's name, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and the Hearst Foundation.
Frank Bennack Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Hearst Corp. in New York, said, 'David Hearst served with distinction as an operating executive of the Hearst Corp. for many years and he will be remembered as a kindly, gracious gentleman who was always most supportive of the company's programs for growth and expansion.'
Hearst was born in New York City on Dec. 2 1915. His mother was Millicent Willson Hearst. He attended St. Bernard's in New York City, St. George's in Newport, R.I., and Princeton University.
He is survived by his wife, the former Hope Chandler; two children, Millicent Boudjakdji of Los Angeles and David W. Hearst Jr. of Beverly Hills; and three grandchildren, Anissa, Sherif and Samia Boudjakdji.
He is also survived by two brothers, Randolph A. Hearst, and William Randolph Hearst Jr., editor-in-chief of Hearst Newspapers and chairman of the corporation's executive committee.
Funeral arrangements were pending.
