Oppel, Richard

Richard Oppel has been editor of the Austin American-Statesman since 1995 and is responsible for news and editorial content. After serving in the Marine Corps, he graduated from the University of South Florida and began his career with the Tampa Tribune.

He worked for the Associated Press and the Detroit Free Press before becoming executive editor of the Tallahassee Democrat in 1977, and then editor of the Charlotte Observer in 1978.

During his 15 years in Charlotte, the Observer won two Pulitzers, both gold medals for meritorious public service, and shared a Pulitzer with the Atlanta Constitution for editorial cartoons.

Oppel has been the National Press Foundation's Editor of the Year, president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and president of the North Carolina Press Association.

He and his wife Carol have two children, Richard Jr., a New York Times reporter; and Shelby Oppel Wood, a Portland Oregonian reporter.

He became a Pulitzer Board member in 2000.