Howard, Roy Wilson

Howard, Roy Wilson, 1883–1964, American newspaper publisher, b. Gano, Ohio. He became New York manager of the United Press (UP) in 1907. During World War I, as president and general manager of UP, Howard prematurely reported from Europe that an armistice had been signed; this caused widespread turmoil. In 1921 he was elected board chairman of the UP, of the Newspaper Enterprise Association, and of their parent concern, the Scripps-McRae newspaper chain. Howard became the partner of Robert P. Scripps, and the chain was renamed Scripps-Howard. Scripps died in 1938, and Howard was trustee for his heirs until they took control of the chain in the late 1940s. Until his death, he retained control of the New York World-Telegram and the Sun (1950–66), which he had built for the chain by purchasing the Telegram (1927), the World (1931), and the Sun (1950).