Lucian D. Starke Jr.

Lucien Douglas Starke Jr. (October 26, 1868 – July 31, 1931) was an American newspaper publisher and attorney. He was the president and publisher of the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. It continues today as The Virginian-Pilot, Virginia's largest daily newspaper.

Early life Lucien Douglas Starke Jr. was born on October 26, 1868, in Norfolk, Virginia. His parents were Tabitha Lucretia (née Pippen) and Lucian D. Starke. His father was a lawyer, newspaper publisher, and a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. He graduated with a bachelor of law in 1899 and passed the bar.

Starke was a staff member of Governor James Hoge Tyler from 1898 to 1902, receiving the rank of colonel.

In 1896, Starke negotiated the purchase of the struggling Norfolk Pilot for client, Albert H. Grandy. Starke served on the newspaper's boar of directors. Later, he became the newspaper's vice president and acting president. Under his leadership, what had once been a small daily newspaper emerged as a metropolitan journal, with subscribers increasing from 16,000 to more than 48,000. He was also a director of the Virginia National Bank of Norfolk and the Seaboard Fire Insurance Company in Portsmouth.

Personal life Starke married Mary Bell White on June 4, 1903. They lived on a farm in Princess Anne County, some eight miles from Norfolk and close to Virginia Beach. He served on the board of the Ballentine Home and the Mt. Sinai Hospital Foundation Fund. He was a member of the Chesapeake Country Club, Norfolk Country Club, and the Princess Anne Country Club. He attended St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Norfolk.

Starke suffered a heart attack in July 1931. Starke died three weeks later on July 31, 1931, in the Sarah Leigh Hospital of Norfolk at the age of 63. He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk.