Honoring Robert J. Hall upon his retirement after thirteen years as Publisher of Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.

WHEREAS, Robert J. Hall is a true, native Philadelphian. He grew up in Frankford, became a paperboy at the age of twelve, earned an accounting degree from Drexel University, and became a certified public accountant. In 1973, he joined Knight Newspapers (which became Knight Ridder, owner of PNI), and worked in various finance and executive positions before moving to Detroit, where he became publisher of the “Detroit Free Press”; and

WHEREAS, Robert Hall came back to Philadelphia and “hit the ground running.” As publisher of PNI, he earned the respect of the unions, the editors, the workers and writers, and thousands of the papers’ readers. He is fair, thorough, friendly, and a tough guy with a heart as big as the Ritz. His common touch and enormous desire to enrich the community as a whole have endeared him to civic and cultural leaders and to this entire region; and

WHEREAS, Robert Hall is a good guy who made his terrific reputation the old-fashioned way - he earned it. His contributions to Knight Ridder over thirty years have been immeasurable, and his many gifts to this community reflect his dedication to our region. He does not boast, so we will say for him that he won the John S. Knight Gold Medal in 1998 and that he has won the hearts of citizens throughout this area. We are thrilled that he plans to stay here, to teach, to golf, to spend time with his loving family. These are worthy plans indeed, and ones we hope will keep him in close touch, for he has made this City a better, fairer and smarter place; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor Robert J. Hall upon his retirement after thirteen years as Publisher of Philadelphia Newspaper Inc.; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Robert J. Hall as evidence of the sincere sentiments, high regard and great admiration of this legislative body.

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