Lancaster New Era, April 17

William Schultz, former Intelligencer Journal editor, dies at 83

By Lancaster New Era staff

William Ralph Schultz, 83, retired editor of the Intelligencer Journal, died of natural causes April 15 at the Essa Flory Hospice Center.

Schultz, of 1402 Hollywood Drive, served as Intelligencer editor from 1973 to 1988, capping a 37-year career at Lancaster Newspapers Inc.

"Lancaster Newspapers is saddened by Bill's passing," said Harold E. Miller, president and chief executive officer of Lancaster Newspapers.

"Bill managed the Intelligencer newsroom and his newspaper with a dedication to fairness, accuracy and integrity.

"His work as the editor of the Intelligencer Journal will be fondly remembered by all of our staff who had the pleasure to be associated with him," said Miller.

John M. Buckwalter, Lancaster Newspapers' chairman of the board, described Schultz as "a soft-spoken, fair and thoughtful editor with a keen mind. He was a true gentleman. It was my privilege to be associated with him in years past."

During Schultz's 15-year tenure as the Intelligencer's editor, its circulation rose nearly 30 percent to more than 45,000 while the newspaper made the transition to the computer era, increased its staff and added sections.

"Those of us who had the chance to work with Bill remember him as a newsman of the old school," said current Intelligencer editor Charles Raymond Shaw. "When working for Bill, you got the news first, but most importantly, you got it right."

Schultz began his career at Lancaster Newspapers in 1951, when he was hired as a general assignment reporter for the Intelligencer.

Schultz then became farm editor for the next 3½ years. He was named the Intelligencer's assistant city editor in 1955. Schultz also wrote a Sunday News column, "The Farmers Say," in the mid-1950s.

Schultz became the Lancaster New Era's assistant city editor in 1957 and then city editor in 1959.

In 1967, Schultz was promoted to managing editor of the Intell. Schultz succeeded Harry F. Stacks as the Intelligencer's editor on Sept. 1, 1973. He retired on Dec. 31, 1988.

A leader in the newspaper industry, Schultz was a past president of the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors Association and a past president of the Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors.

In the community, Schultz served on the founding committee and board of Hospice of Lancaster County, as well as the boards of the Lancaster County Library, the Heritage Center of Lancaster County and Lancaster Theological Seminary.

He and his wife used their journalism skills to produce newsletters and other publications for numerous community organizations.

Born in Scranton, he was the son of the late Ralph William and Edith Gertrude Mitchell Schultz. He was married to Jane H. Murphy Schultz for 58 years.

The 1941 graduate of Scranton Technical High School and U.S. Navy veteran of World War II graduated from Keystone Junior College in 1948. In 1950, he graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

Surviving in addition to his wife are three sons, Ned W., husband of Laura Schultz of Los Osos, Calif.; Mark H., husband of Maureen Schultz of Woodbury, N.J.; and Bart R. of Richmond, Va.; two daughters, Amy J. Schultz, wife of Robert Sherfy of Manheim, and Wendy E., wife of Alan Wubbels of Williamsburg, Va.; 11 grandchildren; a great-grandson; and a sister, Audrey Briggs of Denver.

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