Charles J. Doherty
1892– 1958

Inducted April 30, 1970

Charles J. Doherty, a newspaperman for more than 50 years, was called “The Fighting Irishman” and “Uncle Charlie” because of his candid editorials and his wit. He founded the Missoula County Times in 1931 and served as its editor and publisher until Jan. 2, 1958.

He was born Dec. 17, 1892, in Michigan, N.D., and at age 14 began writing for the family-owned Adams Budget in North Dakota. He subsequently published weeklies in Michigan, N.D., and Dunn Center, N.D, then entered the Army in World War I. He served in France and in the Army of Occupation in Germany.

Before establishing the Missoula County Times Nov. 13, 1931, Doherty owned the Winnett Times. He later shortened the Missoula weekly’s name to The Times.

Doherty participated in many professional and community activities. He was president of the Montana Press Association and of the Western Montana Press-Radio Club. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Missoula in 1941. He was a commander of Hellgate Post 27 of the American Legion, and he helped organize Barracks 835 of the Veterans of World War I, then served as its first commander. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Voiture Locale 476, 40 et 8, the Veterans Association, Knights of Columbus, Elks, National Editorial Association, Sigma Delta Chi, St. Anthony’s Church and the Serra Club.

Doherty sold The Times in 1958 to Walter Larson and Floyd G. Booth and announced his retirement. He commented in a valedictory editorial: “I am not retiring from the business because I want to. It was more than I had the horsepower to handle . . . the business needs men with the kind of drive and ambition I had when I was young. Not men looking forward to coffee breaks; not men watching the clock. Men willing to work for a future. Able men – men who will be valuable to their city in religious, civic and patriotic circles.”

He died five months later – May 22, 1958 – at age 65 at his home in Missoula. An editorial in the Flathead Courier paid him this tribute:

“Mr. Doherty, unlike so many publishers in recent years, showed the way to keep America’s freedoms by taking an independent stand as an editor regardless of financial gain or loss to his publications. America will very shortly feel the loss of such editors who insisted that Americans stay free under our constitution.”

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