Justin Druck

In 53 years at the (Logansport) Pharos-Tribune, Justin M. Druck served as a daily newspaper publisher longer than anyone in Indiana state history.

Upon Druck’s death in 2005, the Howard Charitable Foundation gave a $500,000 grant to the Indiana University School of Journalism to honor Druck’s life and career.  The Justin M. Druck Scholars Program provides a four-year scholarship for incoming Indiana University freshmen who have a demonstrated interest in the pursuit of a journalism degree. The scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who are Indiana residents, with a first preference for students from a Cass County, Indiana, high school.

Druck became a publisher through family ties. After graduating from the University of Minnesota and working briefly for Sears & Roebuck, he moved to Logansport in 1936 to work at his uncle’s newspaper selling advertising and subscriptions. Later, he worked as a sports writer and helped get out the bulldog editions at night.

In 1938, Druck became publisher. According to a tribute in the Pharos-Tribune after his death, Druck said in his later years that many doubted whether a young 20-something from Minnesota knew anything about running a newspaper.

Under his leadership, the newspaper spearheaded drives to improve hospital care, revive the Red Cross blood bank and provide better fire protection.

He sold the newspaper in 1966, but stayed on as publisher until he retired in 1990. Druck served in various capacities for the Inland Press Association and was president of Hoosier State Press Association.