Franklin Schurz

Mr. Schurz is the chairman emeritus of Schurz Communications, where he spent more than 35 years in leadership roles before stepping down in 2007. A graduate of Harvard University and winner of the National Newspaper Association’s Presidential Award of Merit, he completed a Bachelor of Arts in 1952 and a Master of Business Administration in 1956. Inspired by his father, grandfather, and uncles, Mr. Schurz started his communications career at the South Bend Tribune the same year and spent the 1960s at the Morning Herald and Daily Mail, serving as assistant publisher, publisher, and editor before returning in 1970 as secretary of the board. In 1971, he was named director and associate publisher, rising to become editor the following year and president from 1976 until 1982, when he joined Schurz Communications as president and chairman. Mr. Schurz remained president of the company until 2007, when he was granted emeritus status, and he remains active as a producer on two upcoming documentaries. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters by Indiana University in 2015 and has held organizational leadership positions with a number of educational institutions and policy groups.