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Earnest Hoberecht

Class of
1977
Earnest Hoberecht

Earnest Hoberecht

“Earnest Hoberecht has done all this through the thick and thin of fad and fashion, and currently approaches the diamond jubilee celebration of a life well-lived.”
Gov. David Walter, 1993

Biography

Oklahoma native Earnest Hoberecht was the editor of his high school newspaper and began his official newspaper career as a writer for the Watonga Republican. He graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, where he was voted the Outstanding Journalism Graduate of the Year. He went to Pearl Harbor as a laborer during World War II, but within a few months was editor of the Pearl Harbor Bulletin, the Navy yard newspaper. He joined the United Press International (UPI) and his outstanding work brought him promotions to several executive positions, including chief correspondent in Tokyo and general manager in Asia. He built the UPI Group in Asia and was noted among the top five American foreign correspondents. He was the author of numerous books and became president of the Blaine County Abstract Company, Inc., chairman of Watonga Abstract Co., and president of Earnest Hoberecht Insurance Agency.

Fun fact

Earnest Hoberecht was aboard the battleship Missouri to report the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II. Later, he was one of two wire-service correspondents permitted in the official tent on the battlefield in Korea when the Korean armistice was signed. He was one of only a few men to have ever been present at the official end of two wars.

Oklahoma connections

Hoberecht was born in Watonga, Oklahoma.

Hometown

Watonga

Profession

Journalist

Presenter

Born

1918

Died

1999
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