Hauser, 76, former DTH editor

Charles McCorkle Hauser, former editor of The Daily Tar Heel and a longtime journalist, died Sunday in Chapel Hill. He was 76.

He died unexpectedly after three days of illness, said Jane Hauser, his wife of 48 years.

The North Carolina native started his journalism career at the DTH and had his mind on reporting for the rest of his life.

“Over his typewriter he always had the quote ‘Know ye the truth, and the truth shall set you free,’” said Jane Hauser, who met her husband on a blind date at the University.

“I think he always had the belief that newspapers had the great responsibility of getting out the truth, and, you know, it did set him free.”

Charles Hauser wrote for the DTH and held key positions — including managing editor and co-editor in chief — during the late ’40s and early ’50s.

He helped lead the paper through a tumultuous period when issues including communism, segregation and the Korean War consumed the University community.

“He was a writer’s editor,” said Irwin Smallwood, who worked with Hauser at the DTH. “He had a great devotion to high standards and great writing. He was a super human being.”

Charles Hauser’s education was interrupted by three years of service in the Korean War, but he returned to the University and graduated from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1954.

He then worked for newspapers such as The Charlotte Observer and The Greensboro Daily News and Record before he took a position at The Providence Journal, where he served as executive editor from 1973 to 1989.

During this tenure, his staff received a Pulitzer Prize for an exposé on Mafia ties to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Hauser was lauded as an advocate for freedom of the press in 1985, when he defied a court order and published government documents based on illegally taped conversations of a reputed organized crime boss.

But his love and devotion for UNC eventually led Hauser back to Chapel Hill in his later years.

“He loved it here,” Jane Hauser said. “Even when he was editor at The Providence Journal, he still came back to the J-school to hire people.”

He continued to serve the University community by teaching newswriting at the journalism school, and he wrote a monthly column for The Chapel Hill News. He was inducted into the N.C. Journalism Hall of Fame in 2000.

“His heart was always in journalism,” Smallwood said.

Hauser’s wife said he was always active, even into his elderly years. In addition to teaching and writing, he stayed in touch with his Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers and served as an alumni adviser for the chapter.

“He was very energetic,” Jane Hauser said. “He was really quite incredible.”

Charles Hauser had journalism on his mind until the day he died, his wife said.

“Right before he died, he said, ‘Make sure you pick up a paper.’”

Charles Hauser’s family set up a scholarship to pass on his devotion to the University. Contributions can be sent to the Charles Hauser Scholarship at the journalism school at Campus Box 3365.

“We think it’s a wonderful tribute to him,” said Tom Bowers, senior associate dean of the journalism school.

Charles Hauser is survived by his wife, his son, David, and his daughter, Susan.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.