New year, new job: Tribune editor named publisher of Central Wisconsin Newspapers

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Jan 08, 2002 | by Cahalan, Steve

Russell R. "Rusty" Cunningham Jr., who has been editor of the La Crosse Tribune since August 1997, on Monday was named publisher of Central Wisconsin Newspapers, based in Portage, Wis.

Cunningham will leave the Tribune on Jan. 25, Tribune Publisher Mike Jameson said Monday in announcing the promotion. "He's going to be sorely missed," Jameson said. "He's been an excellent editor for this organization and an asset to the community."

Jameson will search for a new editor immediately.

Central Wisconsin's parent company is Madison Newspapers Inc.

Lee Enterprises Inc. of Davenport, Iowa, is half-owner of Madison Newspapers, along with The Capital Times Co.

Cunningham has served as editor of the La Crosse Tribune and editor-in-chief of the River Valley Newspaper Group, both owned by Lee Enterprises.

Cunningham, 46, came to the Tribune from the Ottumwa (Iowa) Courier, where he was editor for five years. He has been with Lee Enterprises for nearly 23 years.

"We've definitely made a difference in our communities and taken an active role," Cunningham said Monday, reflecting on his tenure at the Tribune. "We care deeply about living in this great community."

Cunningham said he takes pride in the Tribune's leadership role in the community.

"Our profile as a leader in the community has certainly been raised," he said. "From printing the Tribune's agenda for the Coulee Region on the opinion page each day, to taking an active role in, developing a regional economic summit in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Workforce Connections and United Coulee Region." The summit was held Oct. 23.

For a major economic development effort that Cunningham led, the Tribune won UCR's Pyramid Award at the Oct. 23 event.

The Tribune will receive the prestigious general excellence award from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association on Feb. 1. Cunningham has won three President's Awards for excellence in journalism during his years with Lee Enterprises.

In 1999, Cunningham received the community leadership award from the Greater La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce for developing a youth leadership program. Cunningham said Monday he has enjoyed coordinating that program. In its third year, the program has 33 students from nine area high schools.

"He's going to be sorely missed by those of us at the chamber, with his involvement in our youth leadership program," chamber President Dick Granchalek said Monday. "The commitment he has made to the young people here has been outstanding. His involvement with other chamber areas has always been excellent."

"He will be sorely missed by the community," UW-L Chancellor Doug Hastad said. "He clearly understands the culture of Wisconsin and the region and was very committed to telling the regional story in a very positive way.

"He has provided extremely strong leadership and vision for the entire region not only through his involvement with the Tribune, but also through his civic mindedness and involvement with other organizations," Hastad said.

Cunningham's board or volunteer affiliations include the Coulee Region Humane Society, Community Alcohol Task Force, Holmen Area Foundation, The Family Playhouse, Riverfront, Junior Achievement and the La Crosse Tribune County Amateur Golf Championship.

His wife, Gail, works at Western Distributing in La Crosse and volunteers for a variety of community efforts, including leading the Holmen High School band parents. Their son, Corey, is a sophomore at Holmen High. Cunningham said the family will continue to live in Holmen at least through the end of this school year.