Stephen Hamblett, 71; Was Publisher of Providence Journal in Rhode Island
Stephen Hamblett, who led the Providence Journal in Rhode Island for nearly 12 years as publisher and chief executive, died Tuesday at 71.
Hamblett died at a hospital in Providence from a blood clot in his brain, his family said.
He was running the newspaper when it won a Pulitzer Prize in 1994 for uncovering corruption and patronage in the state court system, a story that prompted the resignations of Rhode Island’s chief justice and its Supreme Court’s top administrator.
Hamblett stepped down as publisher and chief executive in 1999 and retired as chairman of Providence Journal Co. in 2000 after spending his entire career there.
Under his leadership, the Journal merged its morning and afternoon newspapers into one edition, became a publicly traded company and then was acquired by A.H. Belo Corp. in 1997.
Hamblett joined Journal Co. in 1957, starting as a clerk in the advertising department. He rose through the ranks and took the top post in 1987.
He is survived by his wife, three sons and seven grandchildren.
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