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John E. Gottschalk (/ˈɡɒtʃɔːk/ GOTCH-awk; 1943 – November 3, 2024) was an American business executive who served as the national president of the Boy Scouts of America from 2008 to 2010. He was previously the chief executive officer and publisher of the Omaha World-Herald.

Early life

Gottschalk grew up in Rushville, Nebraska. He was a Boy Scout from 1951 until 1958, earning the rank of Life Scout. His grandfather, Bill Barnes, founded the weekly newspaper Sheridan County Star. Gottschalk's father became owner and publisher of the Star, where John Gottschalk also worked. He attended the University of Nebraska and majored in political science and journalism.

Gottschalk then purchased the Sidney Telegraph. He was the mayor of Sidney, Nebraska, from 1972 to 1975.

World-Herald

Gottschalk sold the Telegraph in 1974 and began working for the World-Herald in 1975 as an assistant to the president. He became a vice president and board member in 1980, president in 1985 and CEO and publisher in 1989.

During Gottschalk's tenure, the World-Herald Corporation expanded to include four daily newspapers, 21 weekly community newspapers, direct marketing and product fulfillment companies and minority ownership in the largest election-services company. The newspaper's Freedom Center production facility was named in his honor upon its opening in August 2001.

Gottschalk retired as CEO and publisher of the World-Herald on January 1, 2008 but remained the corporate chairman.

Scouting

Gottschalk was active in the Boy Scouts of America, and received the Silver Beaver Award, Silver Antelope Award and the James E. West Award. He was also a member of the 1910 Society and the Founders Circle. He received the national Silver Buffalo Award in 2002. He served as the chairman for the Mid-America Council from 1994 to 1995, the president of the Central Region, the national chairman for the 2001 National Scout Jamboree and the national executive vice president of the BSA from 2006 to 2008. Gottschalk was selected as the national president of the BSA on May 23, 2008. He was a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, the organization's governing body.

Personal life and death

Gottschalk's wife was named Carmen. The couple received the Woodrow Wilson Foundation National Distinguished Public Service Award in 2007.

Gottschalk died in Omaha on November 3, 2024, at the age of 81.

References

1. King, Larry; Jordon, Steve (2007-10-08). "Gottschalk's leadership visible in wide range of issues". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
2. ^ O'Brien, Maggie (2008-05-23). "Gottschalk named president of Boy Scouts of America". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
3. "World-Herald publisher John Gottschalk to step aside". Omaha World-Herald. 2007-10-27. Archived from the original on 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
4. Halter, Jon C. (September 2002). "Celebration and Challenge". Scouting. Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
5. Kriskey, Mary Beth. "Mid-America Council receives national awards, area leaders selected to key scouting roles". Scouting News. Archived from the original on 2008-11-18. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
6. Boy Scouts of America Annual Report 2011
7. "Nebraska's Gottschalk Elected to Pheasants Forever's National Board of Directors" Ultimate Pheasant Hunting 24 March 2008, accessed 23 December 2008 Archived February 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
8. "The Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service" (PDF). The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
9. "Journalism college to honor alumni, leaders" College of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
10. John Gottschalk, former Omaha World-Herald publisher and civic leader, dies at 81 Omaha World-Herald

• 1943 births
• 2024 deaths
• American publishing chief executives
• People from Sheridan County, Nebraska
• American philanthropists
• National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America members
• Mayors of places in Nebraska
• People from Sidney, Nebraska
• Presidents of the Boy Scouts of America