Archives West Finding Aid

F. Tom Humphrey (1896-1971) was an editor at the Oregon Journal and Oregon City Enterprise newspapers. Born in Missouri, he attended Central College in Fayette, Missouri, and Colorado State College, before graduating from the School of Aeronautics at the University of California. During World War I he served in the Army as an Air Corps pursuit pilot and instructor. After the war, he worked for several newspapers in California and Colorado before joining the staff of the Oregon Journall in 1937. During World War II, Humphrey took a leave of absence from the newspaper to serve as area director for the President's Committee for Congested Production Areas (CCPA) monitoring war production. Later he moved to the CCPA national office in Washington, D.C., then joined the Aircraft Industries Association of America as public relations counsel. In 1946, Humphrey returned to the Oregon Journalas associate editor of the editorial page, becoming editor in 1951. He retired from the newspaper in 1962. Humphrey was active in prison and parole reform and civic improvements, including the Memorial Coliseum, the rebuilt Morrison Bridge and the new zoo in Portland. He was an organizer and charter board member of the United Fund and a member of many civic organizations. He served twice on the Governor's Committee on Parole and Probation.