Col. Ira C. Copley Purchases Union and Tribune

The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year.

Sunday, January 22, 1928

In 1928 Ira C. Copley, an Illinois newspaper owner and retired congressman, bought The San Diego Union and Evening Tribune from the Spreckels estate. The Copley family would own both newspapers for the next 81 years.

Here are the first few paragraphs of the story:

OWNERSHIP CHANGE NOW IN EFFECT

Publisher Guest of Honor at Dinner in Hotel del Coronado; Welcomed by Mayor And Prominent Citizens.

Sale of The San Diego Union and Evening Tribune by the J.D. & A.B. Spreckels Investment company to Col. Ira C. Copley of Aurora, Ill, owner and publisher of the Aurora Beacon-News, the Elgin Courier-News the Joliet Herald­News and the Illinois State Journal of Springfield, all Illinois newspapers, was completed yesterday noon and Col. Copley is now the owner of both newspapers.

Col. Copley was the guest of honor last night at a dinner given at Hotel del Coronado by William Wheeler, former assistant secretary of the department of commerce and an old-time friend of the colonel. Mayor Clark and others prominent in the civic life of the city were guests at the dinner and welcomed the new owner of The Union and Evening Tribune. Before that occasion Colonel Copley outlined his plans for the two newspapers.

PLANS NO CHANGES

"I contemplate no change in personnel or policy at present," said Col. Copley, "and I hope there will be no changes. I have just one thing to say about the papers. They are going to deliver the goods. I think they have been doing that, and I want them to keep on do1ng it. I have always been interested in San Diego, and I have always looked upon The Union and Tribune with admiration. I have hoped tor a long time to be able to buy The Union and Tr1bune, and the opportunity came at a psychological moment. I am happy to be able to take them over.

"These papers will not be the personal organs of myself or anyone else. I have no political ambitions. I have no connections with any public utility anywhere and no connections with any other business than the newspaper business anywhere.There will be no connection ot any kind between the papers and the San Diego Electric Railway company.

"It shall be the purpose of the papers to present the news on the basis ot its honest news value. They will have neither enemies nor friends in that respect. No newspaper has ever been really successful that has not delivered the goods in an honest and constructive way, and it is my desire to have these papers continue their constructive and honest presentation of the news."