Dudley A. White Jr.

1930 - 2021

Dudley A. White, Jr.
April 15, 1930 - July 17, 2021
Jackson Hole, WY
Dudley A. White, Jr., devoted his professional life to the newspaper business he loved, growing his family's company from two newspapers to more than 17 newspapers and radio stations when he retired at 63. He died at his home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on July 17. He was 91.Deeply dedicated both to family and to community journalism, Dudley threw himself into his role as CEO of the family company upon the unexpected death of his father in 1957. Early on, he served first as publisher of the Norwalk Reflector and later the Sandusky Register - which he always said was his favorite job.He loved being involved in his community, and wrote frequently for the paper - earning the nickname "stiletto" among friends. He was a major proponent of Perkins annexation and actively involved in bringing the BGSU campus to Firelands, where he became a member of the board of trustees.Within the company, he was known as a boss with a hot temper who was unfailingly loyal to his colleagues. Bob Peiffer, Dudley's successor as publisher of the Register and a dear friend, once said, "There are no two more terrifying words in the English language than, 'Dudley called.'" In one cherished episode, he kept a major state government official cooling his heels in the waiting room while he talked to his press foreman in his office. Another colleague burst in saying, "do you realize who's out there?" "Yes," he replied, "but I need my press foreman, and that man out there needs me!"Dudley marshalled the expansion into radio largely from California, first in Santa Ynez and later Rancho Santa Fe. In 1976 his wife, Shirley Hause White, was ailing, due to her lifelong condition as a diabetic. In order to get her treatment, Dudley moved with his wife and daughter, Susan, to California and resigned as publisher of the Register. Shirley White died in 1977 and Dudley White married Shirley Ronai Horton in 1978, going on to have two more children. In his private life, Dudley was a passionate horse breeder, first on his farm in New London, Ohio and later on his ranches in California and Wyoming. Over the years he raised both Arabian and Saddlebred show horses, and spent his retirement as general manager of his family's polo team, which he described as "watching good polo and enjoying his family." His team also won the Spreckles Cup in San Diego twice.Dudley was also a lifelong student of history and constant reader - he quipped that keeping his to-read pile of books large was the secret to staying alive so long. He graduated from Washington & Lee University and supported it and many other educational institutions his whole life. He was very generous with institutions he believed in, but preferred always to keep his support anonymous - the exception being the gift he made with his sister to Fisher-Titus Hospital in support of the Cardio wing, which he did in the memory of his parents and grand-parents. Personally, he was described as "the most contrary generous ornery storytelling fellow I've ever known" by his great niece, Claire Rau. Dudley was born April 15, 1930 in Norwalk, Ohio to Congressman Dudley A. White, Sr., and Alice Snyder White. For his 6th birthday, he desperately wanted a goat. His father was running for the House of Representatives, however, and said there wouldn't be room in DC for a goat, so he could only have one if his father lost the election. So little Dudley door-to-door campaigned against his father. Unfortunately, his campaign failed and Dudley Sr. was elected, and so Dudley Jr. grew up in both Norwalk and Washington. Almost half a century later, his loving sister gave him a goat as a birthday present. And it turned out to be a real jerk. He was preceded in death by his first wife, both parents, his sister, Alice White Rau, and a beloved nephew Mack. He is survived by his three children, Susan, Nicholas, and Reginald, four grandchildren, Miles, Callen, Easton, and Evelyn, and two nephews, David and Norman Rau and their families.The family will hold a celebration of life in San Diego on Oct 16, and requests donations to Doctors Without Borders or The Girl Scouts STEM Pledge in lieu of flowers. If you would like to attend, please RSVP at bit.ly/Dudley-memorial for full details. Please sign the guest book online at legacy.com/obituaries/ ranchosantafereview