Randolph Apperson Hearst
Encyclopedia
Randolph Apperson Hearst (December 2, 1915 – December 18, 2000) was the fourth and last surviving son of William Randolph Hearst
. His twin brother, David, died in 1986. He was the father of Patty Hearst
.
in 1938, Randolph Hearst joined the family business, the Hearst Corporation
. Long active in management of the San Francisco Examiner, he eventually became chairman of the Hearst board from 1973 to 1996, at which time he retired in favor of his nephew, George Randolph Hearst, Jr.
He never had the opportunity to become chief executive officer, because his father's will established a trust that had five family (initially his sons, then their heirs) and eight non-family trustees, all serving for life and electing their successors maintaining those proportions. The trustees name the corporation's board of directors, and the trust does not dissolve until all grandchildren of William Randolph Hearst alive at his death have died. It was under Randolph Hearst's chairmanship that the chief executive inherited from his father, Richard E. Berlin, finally retired, but the next three presidents were all also non-family trustees.
On his death, Randolph Hearst's seat as a trustee of his father's will went to Virginia Hearst Randt, second-oldest of his five daughters.
Randolph Hearst was married three times, first in 1938 to Catherine Wood Campbell of Atlanta, Georgia
who was the mother of his five daughters, Catherine, Virginia, Patricia, Anne and Victoria. Catherine Hearst was a Roman Catholic and a conservative Regent of the University of California
before resigning in 1976.
In 1974, Patty Hearst
made front pages nationwide when she was kidnapped by an extremist group, the Symbionese Liberation Army
, and was soon after caught on film helping the group to rob banks. She renounced the SLA soon after her arrest. The ordeal placed enormous strain on the Hearst marriage, eventually leading to divorce. After their divorce, the first Mrs. Hearst moved to Beverly Hills.
Randolph Hearst divorced his second wife, Maria Cynthia Scruggs, in 1987 to marry a third wife, Veronica de Gruyter (formerly de Beracasa y de Uribe) that same year. Thirteen years later, the third Mrs. Hearst survived and inherited from him.
He died on December 18, 2000, at the age of 85.
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
. His twin brother, David, died in 1986. He was the father of Patty Hearst
Patty Hearst
Patricia Campbell Hearst , now known as Patricia Campbell Hearst Shaw, is an American newspaper heiress, socialite, actress, kidnap victim, and convicted bank robber....
.
Biography
After his graduation from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1938, Randolph Hearst joined the family business, the Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
. Long active in management of the San Francisco Examiner, he eventually became chairman of the Hearst board from 1973 to 1996, at which time he retired in favor of his nephew, George Randolph Hearst, Jr.
He never had the opportunity to become chief executive officer, because his father's will established a trust that had five family (initially his sons, then their heirs) and eight non-family trustees, all serving for life and electing their successors maintaining those proportions. The trustees name the corporation's board of directors, and the trust does not dissolve until all grandchildren of William Randolph Hearst alive at his death have died. It was under Randolph Hearst's chairmanship that the chief executive inherited from his father, Richard E. Berlin, finally retired, but the next three presidents were all also non-family trustees.
On his death, Randolph Hearst's seat as a trustee of his father's will went to Virginia Hearst Randt, second-oldest of his five daughters.
Randolph Hearst was married three times, first in 1938 to Catherine Wood Campbell of Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
who was the mother of his five daughters, Catherine, Virginia, Patricia, Anne and Victoria. Catherine Hearst was a Roman Catholic and a conservative Regent of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
before resigning in 1976.
In 1974, Patty Hearst
Patty Hearst
Patricia Campbell Hearst , now known as Patricia Campbell Hearst Shaw, is an American newspaper heiress, socialite, actress, kidnap victim, and convicted bank robber....
made front pages nationwide when she was kidnapped by an extremist group, the Symbionese Liberation Army
Symbionese Liberation Army
The Symbionese Liberation Army was an American self-styled left-wing urban militant group active between 1973 and 1975 that considered itself a revolutionary vanguard army...
, and was soon after caught on film helping the group to rob banks. She renounced the SLA soon after her arrest. The ordeal placed enormous strain on the Hearst marriage, eventually leading to divorce. After their divorce, the first Mrs. Hearst moved to Beverly Hills.
Randolph Hearst divorced his second wife, Maria Cynthia Scruggs, in 1987 to marry a third wife, Veronica de Gruyter (formerly de Beracasa y de Uribe) that same year. Thirteen years later, the third Mrs. Hearst survived and inherited from him.
He died on December 18, 2000, at the age of 85.