Hoaxster Tully Named to N.D. Executive’s Post

Darrow (Duke) Tully, who stepped down as publisher of Arizona’s two largest newspapers after admitting that he lied about an illustrious military career, will return to the business as publisher of a small daily in North Dakota, its owners announced Thursday.

Tully will be publisher of the Williston Daily Herald, a 9,000-circulation newspaper owned by Wick Communication Co., and will be chief operating officer of two of its weekly publications in North Dakota and Montana, President Walter M. Wick said. Sierra Vista, Ariz.-based Wick Communication publishes seven papers in Arizona and has publications in several other states.

Tully, 54, resigned Dec. 26 as publisher of the Arizona Republic and the Phoenix Gazette after admitting that he pretended for more than 30 years to be a retired decorated Air Force pilot who participated in missions in Korea and Vietnam.

Tully, who will join the Williston paper April 1, said he received several other job offers, which he declined to reveal. “I’ve worked on small newspapers before,” Tully said. “I look at this as a great opportunity.”