Robert C. Maynard - Oakland

Robert Clyve Maynard (June 17, 1937 – August 17, 1993) was a journalist, and owner of the Oakland Tribune. He was co-founder of what was later renamed the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. In 1979, Maynard became editor of the Oakland Tribune, becoming the first African American to be head of a major daily newspaper, ¹ and later purchased the paper.

Family

Maynard was born June 17, 1937, in Brooklyn, NY to immigrants from Barbados. He had at least four brothers and sisters.

Maynard married New York Times reporter Nancy Hicks (Maynard) in 1975 and they had three children: Dori Maynard, David Maynard and Alex Maynard.

Career

Maynard dropped out of high school at age 16 to take a writing job with The New York Age ⁴. Another early writing job was with the York Gazette and Daily. ³

1966 - Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University

1967–1977 - Washington Post, reporter, ombudsperson, editorial staff

1977 - founded Institute for Journalism Education with Nancy Maynard

September 3, 1979 - named editor of the Oakland Tribune

In 1983, Maynard and his wife Nancy bought the Oakland Tribune, and turned the once-struggling paper into a 1990 Pulitzer Prize winner. ²

Death and Legacy

Maynard died in 1993 from prostate cancer. Although he was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran in West Oakland, his funeral was held at the larger St. Paul Lutheran. The Maynards are buried in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, DC. ⁵

The Institute for Journalism Education was renamed in his honor. His daughter, Dori J. Maynard is now president and CEO of the institute. ²

The Berkley Maynard Academy, a charter school in the Golden Gate neighborhood, is named for Maynard and Thomas L. Berkley.

Despite being a high school dropout, over his career he received eight honorary degrees. ³