Allen H. Swartzell, a former general manager for The State News, died March 4 at age 93. Swartzell was the general manager from 1982 to 1994.
His work in newspapers started when he sold The LaPorte Herald-Argus on a street corner as a child, according to his obituary. He became the sports editor for the paper while still in high school.
Swartzell went to college at Indiana University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and government. He also served in the army during World War II.
He moved on to become a reporter for the Elkhart Truth and later returned to the LaPorte and worked as a police reporter, national advertising manager, promotion manager, advertising director and assistant publisher throughout his time there.
Swartzell worked as associate director of the American Press Institute and was also general manager of the Hearst newspapers in Boston, Massachusetts and at Colorado Springs Sun.
According to his obituary, donations can be made in his honor to The General Manager’s Scholarship Fund at The State News.
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