Wilson Hirschfeld
Encyclopedia
Wilson Hirschfeld was a journalist
and former managing editor
of The Plain Dealer who reportedly once remarked that he knew no one with as much integrity as himself *.
In his teenage years Wilson attended Glenville High School
along with Superman
creators Jerry Siegel
and Joe Shuster
, graduating in 1934. He served on Glenville High School's student newspaper, "The Torch", alongside Siegel and Shuster. It is believed that Wilson was the model for Superman's alter-ego, Clark Kent
.
In 1936 he started his career at The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio
), delivering newspapers inside the building. Wilson attended Cleveland College of Western Reserve University as a night student, working at the Plain Dealer during the day.
During World War II
Wilson served with the United States Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1945 in England, France, and Italy. He was inducted into military service as a private and left active duty as a captain.
After the war Wilson returned to the Plain Dealer as a reporter, covering a variety of assignments and winning numerous awards for his work. Among the variety of posts Wilson held were those of police beat reporter, general assignment reporter, City Editor, State Editor, Transportation Editor, Business Editor and finally the above mentioned Managing Editor. He left the Plain Dealer in 1973.
In 1971 The Plain Dealer was one of five entries recommended by the jury for a Pulitzer Prize
in public service. Wilson, along with fellow Plain Dealer staff members David Hopcraft, Richard Zimmerman, Robert Burdock, Richard Widman and Donald Barlett, contributed to the stories.
Wilson's sister, the late Mary Hirschfeld, was also a career journalist employed by The Plain Dealer from approximately 1929 to 1990, working for the paper to the age of 81. Mary died in 1991. While she covered many reporting and feature writing assignments Mary will probably be best remembered for her "Mary Hears" society column and specialty in covering Latin American affairs.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and former managing editor
Managing editor
A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...
of The Plain Dealer who reportedly once remarked that he knew no one with as much integrity as himself *.
In his teenage years Wilson attended Glenville High School
Glenville High School
Glenville Academic Campus is a public high school in the Glenville neighborhood on the East Side of Cleveland, Ohio. The school is part of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Founded in 1905, the school's original campus was located at Everton and Parkwood. The current campus was built in...
along with Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
creators Jerry Siegel
Jerry Siegel
Jerome "Jerry" Siegel , who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S...
and Joe Shuster
Joe Shuster
Joseph "Joe" Shuster was a Canadian-born American comic book artist. He was best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published in Action Comics #1...
, graduating in 1934. He served on Glenville High School's student newspaper, "The Torch", alongside Siegel and Shuster. It is believed that Wilson was the model for Superman's alter-ego, Clark Kent
Clark Kent
Clark Kent is a fictional character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Appearing regularly in stories published by DC Comics, he debuted in Action Comics #1 and serves as the civilian and secret identity of the superhero Superman....
.
In 1936 he started his career at The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
), delivering newspapers inside the building. Wilson attended Cleveland College of Western Reserve University as a night student, working at the Plain Dealer during the day.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Wilson served with the United States Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1945 in England, France, and Italy. He was inducted into military service as a private and left active duty as a captain.
After the war Wilson returned to the Plain Dealer as a reporter, covering a variety of assignments and winning numerous awards for his work. Among the variety of posts Wilson held were those of police beat reporter, general assignment reporter, City Editor, State Editor, Transportation Editor, Business Editor and finally the above mentioned Managing Editor. He left the Plain Dealer in 1973.
In 1971 The Plain Dealer was one of five entries recommended by the jury for a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in public service. Wilson, along with fellow Plain Dealer staff members David Hopcraft, Richard Zimmerman, Robert Burdock, Richard Widman and Donald Barlett, contributed to the stories.
Wilson's sister, the late Mary Hirschfeld, was also a career journalist employed by The Plain Dealer from approximately 1929 to 1990, working for the paper to the age of 81. Mary died in 1991. While she covered many reporting and feature writing assignments Mary will probably be best remembered for her "Mary Hears" society column and specialty in covering Latin American affairs.
- As cited in an essay by Dennis Dooley entitled "The Man of Tomorrow and the Boys of Yesterday" within the book (on page 30) "Superman at Fifty - The Persistence of a Legend!" edited by Dennis Dooley and Gary Engle, copyright 1987 by Octavia Press of Cleveland, Ohio. ISBN 0-940601-00-1