Bob Larson said he knew the day would come when he would pass the torch – or in this case, newspaper – to his youngest son. But instead of the transition being filled with sadness, he said it’s one filled with pride.
During a staff meeting on Friday, Sept. 4, Larson announced that effective immediately his son Kyle would be taking over the helm of the company as its general manager. And while Bob may not be overseeing the day-to-day operations, he will still have a hand in the business side.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said the longtime publisher of Larson Newspapers. “The last 14 years of flying back and forth between here and San Diego has really broken me down. I know Kyle can do the job and it’s nice to see him following in my footsteps.”
The newspaper business has been a Larson family tradition for nearly 100 years with Bob’s grandfather starting a small publication in Montana in the 1910s. In addition to Bob, over the years his three siblings have worked at the Sedona Red Rock News.
“My folks [Robert and Loretta] started this paper in 1963 and ran it basically out of our home,” he said. “There had been nine papers come and go within their first year of operation before us.”
Larson said those first four years his parents traded out advertising with local businesses for everything from gas to food to even television sets and a car.
“They did whatever it took to keep the paper alive in those early days,” he said. “I don’t know how they did it — I know I couldn’t have.”
In 1965 the family had the paper printed in Prescott and two years later at the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff, where Larson split his time working along with for his father all through college. In 1973, Larson was named assistant publisher and seven years later secured financing for the paper to purchase its own printing press.
“That turned out to be the best thing possible,” he said of the purchase. “From there the paper grew and grew and grew.”
In the late 1980s, the Larson Newspaper family expanded with the purchase of The Camp Verde Journal and the creation of the Cottonwood Journal Extra. During that same time, the NEWS expanded to twice a week.
“Our primary focus has always been Sedona — it’s where we came to more than 50 years ago and have always lived. This is our home,” he said.
Kyle Larson started with the newspaper full time in 2005 and during those early years worked in every department to learn the business inside and out.
“That was extremely beneficial,” Kyle said of learning all aspects of the business. “That’s the only way to do it — to learn how every department works.”
Being the third generation to the run the newspaper chain, Kyle said he realizes he has some big shoes to fill but is up for the challenge.
“I’m very grateful and honored to be able to continue the family tradition,” he said. “I know that’s a big responsibility but I feel fully equipped in moving forward. This is what I’ve wanted to do for quite some time. I remember being in my senior year of college and calling my dad, telling him I wanted to move back to Sedona and learn the family business.”
Kyle may not be the last Larson to head up the newspaper chain. His 5-year-old son, Adam, expressed to his grandpa his desire to do just that.
“We were on the house boat recently and Adam said, ‘Papa, I love you and I’m going to work with my daddy at your newspaper,’” Bob said. “Nothing would make me happier. After all, the newspaper business is in the Larson blood.”
