John E. Gottschalk (pronounced /ˈɡɒtʃɔːk/; b. 1943) is the retired chief executive officer and publisher of the Omaha World-Herald and was the national president of the Boy Scouts of America from 2008 to 2010. He and his wife, Carmen, are known for their philanthropy.[1]
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Gottschalk grew up in Rushville, Nebraska. He was a Boy Scout from 1951 to 1958, earning the rank of Life Scout.[2][3] His grandfather, Bill Barnes founded the weekly newspaper Sheridan County Star. Gottschalk's father became owner and publisher of the Star, and young Gottschalk began working for the Star. He attended the University of Nebraska and majored in political science and journalism. He was the president of Phi Gamma Delta.
Gottschalk then purchased the Sidney Telegraph. He was the mayor of Sidney, Nebraska from 1972 to 1975.
Gottschalk sold the Telegraph in 1974 and began working for the World-Herald in 1975 as an assistant to the president. He became a vice president and board member in 1980, president in 1985 and CEO and publisher in 1989.
During Gottschalk's tenure, the World-Herald Corporation expanded to include four daily newspapers, 21 weekly community newspapers, direct marketing and product fulfillment companies and minority ownership in the largest election-services company.
Gottschalk retired as CEO and publisher of the World-Herald on January 1, 2008 but remained the corporate chairman.[4]
Gottschalk has been active in the Boy Scouts of America, and received the Silver Beaver Award, Silver Antelope Award and the James E. West Award. He is also a member of the 1910 Society and the Founders Circle. He received the national Silver Buffalo Award in 2002.[5] He served as the chairman for the Mid-America Council from 1994 to 1995, the president of the Central Region, the national chairman for the 2001 National Scout Jamboree and the national executive vice president of the BSA from 2006 to 2008. [6] Gottschalk was selected as the national president of the BSA on May 23, 2008.[3]
He has served on the boards of the Joslyn Art Museum, the Henry Doorly Zoo, Creighton University, the Kiewit Institute, the Omaha Symphony and the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation and served as chairman of Omaha Performing Arts.
| Boy Scouts of America | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rick Cronk |
National president 2008 |
Succeeded by Rex Tillerson |