Harold ‘Hal’ Hubbard; Journalist in Southland for 7 Decades

Harold Norwood “Hal” Hubbard, Southern California newsman for more than 70 years who had planned to work until age 100, has died. He was 97.

Hubbard, most recently a columnist for the Pasadena Star-News, died Sunday on the Hawaiian island of Lanai, where he was vacationing with his family. He had been recuperating from gallbladder surgery and planned to return to work in January.

Born in Pasadena, Hubbard studied at Caltech and USC, with his education interrupted while he served in the Army during World War I.

He joined the Hollywood Citizen News as a cub reporter in 1924 and eventually became executive editor. He was proud of giving the late Times columnist Jack Smith his first reporting job after World War II.

After the Hollywood paper folded in 1969, Hubbard worked briefly for the ill-fated Copley newspaper called the Pasadena Union. After its demise, he moved to the Star-News, where he covered urban affairs and wrote upbeat columns about people. He adapted easily to computers, but continued to wear his old-fashioned green eyeshade in the newsroom.

Hubbard was active in more than 60 organizations devoted to Pasadena’s cultural and civic betterment.

Hubbard is survived by his wife of 68 years, Alma; two daughters, Marilyn Roberts and Beverly Neu, both of San Marino; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The family has asked that any memorial donations be made to the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena or the Pasadena Historical Society.