Herbert Nipson, 95, who spent 15 years as executive editor of Ebony magazine, died Dec. 10 at his home in Albuquerque N.M.
Born July 26, 1916, at Asheville, N.C., Nipson grew up in Clearfield. He attended Penn State University and graduated with a degree in journalism. He was also the first African American elected into Sigma Delta Chi, the national journalism honor society.
Nipson served in World War II in the U.S. Army as a driving instructor, and following the war, attended the University of Iowa, where he earned an MFA in creative writing. In 1949 Nipson began his career with Ebony as an associate editor, and was named editor in 1972. Nipson was present and on staff with Ebony throughout the Civil-Rights Movement, according to his online obituary. He retired from Ebony in 1987.
Herbert Nipson was a guiding force in shaping Ebony, said Linda Johnson Rice, Johnson Publishing Chairman.
“‘Nip’ as we knew him, was a loyal member of the JPC community and an extraordinary presence for as long as I can remember going to the Johnson Publishing Company offices,” Rice said.
In addition to the exceptional impact he had on the magazine, he was a true advocate for the arts and was instrumental in building the Johnson Publishing Company corporate art collection, said Rice.
You can read more about Herbert Nipson here.
