Robert E. Petersen

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Robert Einar "Pete" Petersen (September 10, 1926 – March 23, 2007) was an American publisher and founder of the Petersen Automotive Museum in 1994. [1]

Petersen was born in East Los Angeles and served in the Army Air Corps in World War II. Starting with Hot Rod Magazine in 1948, he built his publishing empire on automotive-themed publications, including Motor Trend.[2] He also published CARtoons, Guns & Ammo, Sport, Motorcyclist, Car Craft, Hunting, Mountain Biker, Photographic, Teen, Tiger Beat, and Sassy Magazine.

He married Margie McNally in 1963 and had two sons who died in a 1975 plane crash.

In 1996 Petersen sold his company Petersen Publishing Company to a private equity fund which, in 1999, sold it for $450 million to publisher EMAP. In 2001 it was sold to Primedia. In 2007 Primedia's enthusiast publications, including all the once-Petersen titles, were again sold to Source Interlink, controlled by Ron Burkle.

Petersen died at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California of complications from neuroendocrine cancer.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hevesi, Dennis (March 27, 2007). Robert Petersen, Publisher of Auto Buff Magazines, Dies at 80. New York Times
  2. ^ Stone, Matt. Interview: Robert E. Petersen - From Rods To Riches. Motor Trend
  3. ^ O'Dell, John (March 24, 2007). From a humble start, he found a road to success. Los Angeles Times

[edit] External links

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