Henry Beetle Hough

Henry Beetle Hough (November 8, 1896 – June 6, 1985) was an American journalist. He was the owner, editor and publisher of the Vineyard Gazette. Hough was known for winning the Pulitzer Prize for Newspaper History with Minna Lewinson in 1918.

Early life and education Hough was born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His father, George A. Hough, was the managing editor of The New Bedford Standard and his mother was Abby Louise Beetle Hough. After high school, he enrolled at Columbia University, where he received his B.Litt. in journalism in 1918 and met his wife, Elizabeth Bowie Hough.

Career As a student at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Hough wrote a paper with Minna Lewinson, a fellow student, for which in 1918 at the age of 22 he received with her the Pulitzer Newspaper History Award.

As a wedding present, Hough received the Vineyard Gazette from his father in 1920 and ran the newspaper for 45 years with his wife. He was also a conservation activist and led the fight against the demolition of Edgartown Harbor Light in 1938. He donated hundreds of acres of family land to a preserve to prevent development and founded the local land trust, Sheriff's Meadow Foundation, which oversees 2,900 acres of land on the island.

Hough was also the author of 23 books and wrote reviews and articles for The New York Times Magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, and Esquire.