Jack Howard; Former President, General Manager of Scripps Empire

Jack R. Howard, former president and general manager of the E.W. Scripps Co., died at his home Sunday. He was 87.

Howard spent nearly 50 years in journalism before retiring in 1976 as president and general manager of Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps.

He was the son of Roy W. Howard, who built United Press International into a worldwide wire service and, through his association with E.W. Scripps, became the “Howard” in the Scripps Howard media empire.

The E.W. Scripps Co., which now controls all Scripps Howard businesses, operates 20 daily newspapers, nine television stations, Home & Garden Television, the Food Network and United Media.

In 1928, the younger Howard joined United Press as a summer copy aide to cover the Olympics in Amsterdam. After a World War II Navy stint, Howard was named executive vice president of Scripps. In 1953, he succeeded his father as president.

He is survived by his children, Pamela Howard of New York and Michael Balfe Howard of Denver, and seven grandchildren. Funeral arrangements were pending.