Robert W. Chandler

Robert W. Chandler (May 12, 1921 – July 12, 1996) was an American journalist, businessman, and philanthropist. He was the editor and publisher of The Bulletin, a daily newspaper in Bend, Oregon. He ran the newspaper for 43 years. With the Bulletin as a starting point, he founded Western Communications, Inc., a company that owns and publishes newspapers in Oregon and California. Among his various efforts in the field, he served as president of the national Society of Professional Journalists. He was also a major donor to the High Desert Museum in Bend. He was inducted into the Oregon Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2006.

Early life

Chandler was born on May 12, 1921, in Marysville, California. He grew up on the family's farm near Yuba City, California. He attended Stanford University, earning a degree in journalism. During World War II, Chandler was a special agent in the United States Army's Counter Intelligence Corps. While in the Army, he served in Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, Korea, and Japan.

After leaving the Army, Chandler worked for a weekly newspaper that served the Burney and Fall River Mills area in northern California. Later, he took a job on the staff of the San Francisco Chronicle. He also worked as a reporter and bureau manager for United Press International in a series of assignments in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Boise, Helena, and Portland, Oregon. Chandler also worked for The Denver Post for a time.

Chandler ran the newspaper for the next 43 years, first as The Bend Bulletin and after 1963 as The Bulletin. During his tenure, Chandler brought new technology into his newspaper operation. Soon after he bought the paper in 1953, he expanded the photoengraving facilities. In 1956, he replaced the paper's flatbed press with a new rotary press that printed 13,000 32-page sections per hour. The new press also allowed the paper to print photographs in color.

Western Communication's publications included five Oregon newspapers and a weekly shoppers' guide plus two California papers. It was headquartered in Bend, Oregon which is also the home of its flagship newspaper, The Bulletin.

Baker City Herald, published in Baker City, Oregon The Bulletin, published in Bend, Oregon Central Oregon Nickel Ads, published in Bend, Oregon Curry Coastal Pilot, published in Brookings, Oregon The Observer, published in La Grande, Oregon The Redmond Spokesman, published in Redmond, Oregon The Daily Triplicate, published in Crescent City, California The Union Democrat, published in Sonora, California

Civic leader

Throughout his life, Chandler was active in civic affairs. In 1962, Chandler ran for the United States House of Representatives in Oregon's 2nd congressional district. He won the Republican nomination, but was defeated in the general election by the incumbent congressman, Al Ullman.

In 1982, Chandler helped establish the High Desert Museum near Bend. He was the institution's largest financial donor for many years, contributing over $1 million to the museum. His gifts funded many of the museum's exhibits, publications, and educational programs. He also served as chairman of the museum's board of directors in 1989 and 1990.

Chandler generously supported education programs at the University of Oregon and Central Oregon Community College. In 1983, Chandler established the Robert W. Chandler Journalism Scholarship at the University of Oregon. It awards scholarship to undergraduate students majoring in news-editorial at the university's School of Journalism and Communications. In 1985, Chandler and his wife Nancy established the Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program at Central Oregon Community College. The program brings renowned scholars to the college to present lectures and lead interactive workshops. The goal of the program is to expose the Central Oregon community to a wide range of perspectives on world events. In 1991, Chandler created the Robert W. Chandler Endowed Lecture Series in Journalism at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. The program hosts lectures by nationally known journalists that offer students the opportunity to engage renowned journalist in discussions about journalism and democracy.

In 2006, the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association inducted Chandler into the Oregon Newspaper Hall of Fame. The hall of fame recognizes people who have made an enduring contribution to the newspaper profession in Oregon.