Longtime Paddock executive was an industry leader
William F. Schoepke, a longtime Paddock Publications executive who became so closely identified with the company that people occasionally thought he was a member of the Paddock family, has died, the company announced Wednesday.
His death Tuesday was attributed to congestive heart failure. He was 86.
The World War II veteran, who lived most of his life in Arlington Heights, retired as vice president of production in 1996 after 54 years with the company.
“I've had an ideal employment life,” Schoepke said upon his retirement. “I couldn't ask for anything more interesting, more challenging or more rewarding than my job has been. People have called me Bill Paddock, and I take that as a compliment, because they associated me with an outstanding family.”
Schoepke was in charge of production at the Daily Herald when the Linotype machine gave way to the computer. He was renowned for his expertise in new technologies, his hard work and his frugality.
“It was the only paycheck he ever received other than his time in World War II,” said his son, Michael Schoepke, who also works for Paddock Publications, which publishes the Daily Herald. “He watched it grow from a country weekly to the third largest daily newspaper in the state of Illinois, and he was a significant contributor to that success.”
Schoepke was particularly close to the late Stuart R. Paddock Jr., longtime publisher and chairman, according to his son, Stuart R. Paddock III, director of production operations for the company.
“Stu always respected Bill's passion for excellence and accountability,” said the younger Paddock. “On the personal side, they remained very good friends even after Bill's retirement. At least weekly, they would talk to each other on business or personal matters.”
When Stuart Paddock Jr. was promoted to president in the mid-1960s, he turned over the production department to Mr. Schoepke, said Daniel E. Baumann, chairman emeritus.
For almost a century, the newspaper had been a weekly, rising to 18,000 circulation in the 1960s, when it expanded to three days a week, then five days. In 1976 the Daily Herald published six days a week, and it became a full-fledged daily in 1978.
Circulation had grown to more than 100,000 when Schoepke retired, Baumann said.
“He brought all kinds of efficiencies and mechanical abilities that were necessary for a paper that had grown so quickly,” Baumann said. “His professional level of management and operations came at a key time.”
Douglas K. Ray, chairman, publisher, chief executive officer and president of Paddock Publications, agreed.
“He was an industry leader in the production area and guided Paddock Publications through the most significant change in processes in its history — from letterpress to offset production,” Ray said. “The first offset presses were selected by Bill and his team and housed in a state-of-the-art printing plant on Ridge Avenue in Arlington Heights — before our move to our current facility in Schaumburg.”
Robert Paddock Jr., vice chairman and executive vice president, said at times in the newspaper's history there were more Schoepkes working at the paper than Paddocks. Several of Mr. Schoepke's brothers and a sister worked for the company, and his son, Michael, is assistant vice president and manager of computer operations.
“The Schoepkes and their hard work contributed to the sort of spirit we had here as the community and the newspaper grew,” Robert Paddock Jr. said.
Schoepke's well-known frugality also aided the company's success, he said.
“After a party or get-together or ceremony we still have a joke repeating what Bill would say. He'd chime in, ‘Let's get back to work.' It was indicative of his approach to business.”
Schoepke started his career at the newspaper as a printer's devil, a colorful word for an apprentice. He was paid 25 cents an hour, and one of his chores was washing windows.
He rose through the ranks and was named vice president of production in 1970.
Schoepke's newspaper career was interrupted early on by World War II, and his Army service included being part of the D-Day invasion. That service was honored last October when he was one of 90 veterans who flew to Washington, D.C., as guests of a private group that sponsors Honor Flights for Chicago area veterans of that era.
Schoepke enjoyed spending time with his family. He also enjoyed golf and dancing. He even attended a dance this past New Year's Eve, his son said.
Schoepke was born on Sept. 22, 1924. His wife, Katherine, to whom he was married nearly 54 years, died in 2001. In addition to Michael, of Cary, survivors include two daughters, Cathy Wloch of South Barrington and Linda Fine of Deerfield, and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at Meadows Funeral Home, 3615 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows. A visitation also will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, followed by an 11 a.m. service and a luncheon. Memorial contributions may be sent to Honor Flight Chicago, 938 W. Montana St., Chicago, IL 60614.