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In Memory

Douglas Tibbitts - Class of 1926

George Douglas Tibbitts, 73, prominent semi retired newspaper publisher died December 4, 1980 at Woodland Memorial Hospital where he had been confined with complications following an operation.  Born June 27, 1907 in Providence, Utah the eldest child of Bishop and Mrs. George Samuel Tibbitts.  He spent his youth in Montpelier.  He graduated from Montpelier High School in 1926 where he was president of the Honor Society, captain of the varsity basketball team and a track star.  He enrolled at the University of Wyoming in Laramie where he graduated with honors in journalism.  He also received a master's degree in English from the University.  He began his newspaper career as a printer's aide in high school and became editor of the college newspaper.  He worked his way through college on the staff of the Laramie leader and became mechanical superintendent of the Laramie newspapers where he became part owner in 1940.  In Wyoming he was best known for his fly fishing ability.  In the printing field he was a master craftsman and an outstanding editor.  He expanded his career by moving to California where he became part owner and publisher of several newspapers.  For the last few years of his life he served as a consultant to Hispanic journalism and mentored many Hispanic journalism students in Sacramento.  He was a member of the LDS Church.  He is survived by his wife, Mary, a son and five grandchildren.  Interment was in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Woodland, California.