Al Neuharth
(Courtesy of the South Dakota Hall of Fame)
loading...

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) - The president of the University of South Dakota says the nation has lost a "great media innovator" with the death of USA Today founder Al Neuharth. Neuharth died Friday in Cocoa Beach, Fla. He was 89.

USD president James Abbott says Neuharth was a favorite of students, faculty and staff.

Neuharth graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1950. The Al Neuharth Media Center on campus houses the student newspaper, The Volante, KYOT radio and television, the Department of Contemporary Media and Journalism and South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

Neuharth, who was born in Eureka, returned to South Dakota every year to present the Al Neuharth Award of Excellence in Media to a distinguished member of the media.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More From Hot 104.7 - KKLS-FM