Donald Welsh
Encyclopedia
Donald Emory Welsh was a magazine publisher and entrepreneur.
Welsh studied at Columbia College
and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
. After being admitted to the Ohio bar
, he worked for the Cleveland Trust Company.
He soon moved on to the magazine business, starting at Fortune
in the advertising department. From there, he moved to Rolling Stone, rising to the position of associate publisher. He went on to be the founding publisher of Outside
, which was founded by Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner
.
Welsh left Wenner to run the magazine division of another business group, where he focused largely on children's magazines. He created more than 20 magazines, based on well-known franchises such as Mickey Mouse
and the Muppets. He bought the division from the group in 1987. He later sold the company, renamed to it Welsh Publishing Group, to Marvel Comics
.
He was a co-founder, with Arthur Frommer
, of Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, which was sold to Newsweek
in 1999, one year after its foundation. He went on to found Budget Living magazine to critical acclaim, but not commercial success (it shut down after four years due to low revenues), winning the general excellence award from the American Society of Magazine Editors
.
Welsh died of drowning at age 66 in Tortola
, the British Virgin Islands
.
Welsh studied at Columbia College
Columbia College
Columbia College may refer to one of several institutions of higher education in North America:In Canada* Columbia College , in Calgary* Columbia College , a two-year liberal arts institution in Vancouver...
and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
The Cleveland–Marshall College of Law is the law school of Cleveland State University, located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school traces its origins to the founding of Cleveland Law School in 1897 which, in 1946, merged with the John Marshall School of Law, founded in 1916, to become Cleveland–Marshall...
. After being admitted to the Ohio bar
State bar association
A state bar association is a bar association that represents or seeks to represent all of the attorneys in a specific U.S. state. Membership in such an association may be voluntary or mandatory for practitioners in that state. State bar associations may be tasked with the administration of the...
, he worked for the Cleveland Trust Company.
He soon moved on to the magazine business, starting at Fortune
Fortune (magazine)
Fortune is a global business magazine published by Time Inc. Founded by Henry Luce in 1930, the publishing business, consisting of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, grew to become Time Warner. In turn, AOL grew as it acquired Time Warner in 2000 when Time Warner was the world's largest...
in the advertising department. From there, he moved to Rolling Stone, rising to the position of associate publisher. He went on to be the founding publisher of Outside
Outside (magazine)
Outside is an American magazine focused on the outdoors. The first issue debuted in September 1977 with its mission statement declaring that the publication was "dedicated to covering the people, sports and activities, politics, art, literature, and hardware of the outdoors..."Its founders were...
, which was founded by Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner
Jann Wenner
Jann Simon Wenner is the co-founder and publisher of the music and politics biweekly Rolling Stone, as well as the owner of Men's Journal and Us Weekly magazines.-Childhood:...
.
Welsh left Wenner to run the magazine division of another business group, where he focused largely on children's magazines. He created more than 20 magazines, based on well-known franchises such as Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
and the Muppets. He bought the division from the group in 1987. He later sold the company, renamed to it Welsh Publishing Group, to Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
He was a co-founder, with Arthur Frommer
Arthur Frommer
Arthur Frommer is a travel writer, publisher and consumer advocate, and the founder of the Frommer's series of travel guides and Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine. He has published many books for budget-conscious travelers and has been one of America's foremost budget travel authorities...
, of Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, which was sold to Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
in 1999, one year after its foundation. He went on to found Budget Living magazine to critical acclaim, but not commercial success (it shut down after four years due to low revenues), winning the general excellence award from the American Society of Magazine Editors
American Society of Magazine Editors
The American Society of Magazine Editors is an industry trade group for editors of magazines published in the United States. The group advocates on behalf of member organizations with respect to First Amendment issues, and serves as a networking hub for editors and other industry employees...
.
Welsh died of drowning at age 66 in Tortola
Tortola
Tortola is the largest and most populated of the British Virgin Islands, a group of islands that form part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. Local tradition recounts that Christopher Columbus named it Tortola, meaning "land of the Turtle Dove". Columbus named the island Santa Ana...
, the British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
.