Austin H. Kiplinger
Encyclopedia
Austin H. Kiplinger is a journalist
and philanthropist
who lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland
. He is the son of W.M. Kiplinger, the founder of Kiplinger
Washington Editors.
Kiplinger's journalistic career began with some work for the Kiplinger Washington Letter in high school, when he was a student at The Landon School
, a prestigious all-boys prep school in Bethesda, Maryland
. He attended Cornell University
, where he gained prominence in leading a movement seeking to make ROTC voluntary. He worked as a reporter for the Ithaca Journal and was active in the Delta Upsilon
fraternity and the Quill and Dagger
society.
Following his graduation in 1939, Kiplinger became a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle
. He took leave to serve as a naval aviator in the Pacific
during World War II
. In December 1944, he married Mary Louise "Gogo" Cobb of Bronxville, New York
, shortly before returning to Chevy Chase in 1946 to work for Kiplinger Washington Editors, and to co-found The Kiplinger Magazine, later Changing Times, the following year.
In 1948, he moved to Chicago
to write a column for the Chicago Journal of Commerce. He became a political commentator for ABC (WBKB-TV
) in 1951, when television news was in its infancy, before moving to NBC (WNBQ
) in 1955. While in Chicago, he hosted the first TV show on business news.
In 1956, he returned to Kiplinger Washington Editors and Changing Times, today known as Kiplinger's Personal Finance
. In 1961, he succeeded his father as editor-in-chief. Kiplinger's Personal Finance, now edited by Austin's son Knight, is now the longest continually published personal finance publication in the United States. His other son, Todd, is vice chair of the board.
In addition to his journalism career, Kiplinger followed his father’s lead as a collector of Washingtoniana. He championed the creation of a city museum for the District of Columbia. The library at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. is named in his honor.
Kiplinger is chairman emeritus of the Cornell University Board of Trustees and a trustee of the Tudor Place Foundation, the Federal City Council, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the National Press Foundation.
Kiplinger owned Montevideo, a 382 acres (1.5 km²) historic farm in Poolesville, Maryland, near the Potomac River until August 2009. Most of the Montevideo property has been set aside for preservation, except for two lots that Kiplinger retained for his descendants. By agreeing not to develop most of the property, Kiplinger avoided payment of thousands of dollars of real estate taxes each year. In August 2009, Kiplinger transferred ownership of Montevideo and numerous other valuable real estate properties to his son, Knight Kiplinger.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
who lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
. He is the son of W.M. Kiplinger, the founder of Kiplinger
Kiplinger
Kiplinger is a Washington, D.C.-based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, available in print, online, audio, video and software products ....
Washington Editors.
Kiplinger's journalistic career began with some work for the Kiplinger Washington Letter in high school, when he was a student at The Landon School
Landon School
The Landon School is a private, nonsectarian, college preparatory school for boys in grades 3-12, with an enrollment of approximately 675 students. The school sits on in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C.-Background:...
, a prestigious all-boys prep school in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
. He attended Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, where he gained prominence in leading a movement seeking to make ROTC voluntary. He worked as a reporter for the Ithaca Journal and was active in the Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon is the sixth oldest international, all-male, college Greek-letter organization, and is the oldest non-secret fraternity in North America...
fraternity and the Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
society.
Following his graduation in 1939, Kiplinger became a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
. He took leave to serve as a naval aviator in the Pacific
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In December 1944, he married Mary Louise "Gogo" Cobb of Bronxville, New York
Bronxville, New York
Bronxville is an affluent village within the town of Eastchester, New York, in the United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately north of midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County. At the 2010 census, Bronxville had a population of 6,323...
, shortly before returning to Chevy Chase in 1946 to work for Kiplinger Washington Editors, and to co-found The Kiplinger Magazine, later Changing Times, the following year.
In 1948, he moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to write a column for the Chicago Journal of Commerce. He became a political commentator for ABC (WBKB-TV
WBKB-TV
WBKB-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Alpena area of Michigan's Northern Lower Peninsula. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter south of Hubbard Lake near M-72 in Alcona County. The station can also be seen on Charter channel 10 and...
) in 1951, when television news was in its infancy, before moving to NBC (WNBQ
WMAQ-TV
WMAQ-TV, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Chicago, Illinois. WMAQ-TV's main studios and offices are located within the NBC Tower in the Streeterville neighborhood, with an auxiliary street-level studio on the Magnificent Mile at 401...
) in 1955. While in Chicago, he hosted the first TV show on business news.
In 1956, he returned to Kiplinger Washington Editors and Changing Times, today known as Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kiplinger's Personal Finance is a magazine that has been continuously published, on a monthly basis, from 1947 to the present day. It was the nation's first personal finance magazine, and claims to deliver "sound, unbiased advice in clear, concise language"...
. In 1961, he succeeded his father as editor-in-chief. Kiplinger's Personal Finance, now edited by Austin's son Knight, is now the longest continually published personal finance publication in the United States. His other son, Todd, is vice chair of the board.
In addition to his journalism career, Kiplinger followed his father’s lead as a collector of Washingtoniana. He championed the creation of a city museum for the District of Columbia. The library at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. is named in his honor.
Kiplinger is chairman emeritus of the Cornell University Board of Trustees and a trustee of the Tudor Place Foundation, the Federal City Council, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the National Press Foundation.
Kiplinger owned Montevideo, a 382 acres (1.5 km²) historic farm in Poolesville, Maryland, near the Potomac River until August 2009. Most of the Montevideo property has been set aside for preservation, except for two lots that Kiplinger retained for his descendants. By agreeing not to develop most of the property, Kiplinger avoided payment of thousands of dollars of real estate taxes each year. In August 2009, Kiplinger transferred ownership of Montevideo and numerous other valuable real estate properties to his son, Knight Kiplinger.