Henry A. Youmans Jr., former publisher of The Waukesha Freeman and lifelong Waukesha resident, died Monday, April 16, 2001, at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. He was 79.
Born Feb. 16, 1922, in Waukesha, he was the son of Henry A. and Josephine (Hughes) Youmans. After graduating from the Waukesha school system, Youmans attended Campion Academy and UW-Madison before graduating from Carroll College.
During World War II, Youmans served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946. He was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1946 to 1963, when he was discharged as a captain in the infantry.
On Aug. 31, 1946, Youmans married his wife, Juanita Williams, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. It was just a few years later that he began working for The Waukesha Freeman as a reporter. He worked his way up to president and publisher in 1960 and eventually retired in 1979.
Youmans was elected to the Milwaukee Press Club’s Media Hall of Fame and served as president of the Wisconsin Daily Newspaper League. He also was honored with the Liberty Award by the Waukesha County Board.
