Lynett-Haggerty Family to Receive President’s Medal

The Lynett-Haggerty Family, Owners of Times-Shamrock Communications, will be presented with the University’s President’s Medal at the President’s Business Council (PBC) Eleventh Annual Award Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 4, at The Pierre in New York City. This represents the first time that a family has been selected for the annual gala as the third generation of family leadership (Cecelia L. Haggerty, Edward J. Lynett Jr. ’65, George V. Lynett, Esq., G’71, and William R. Lynett ’72) is honored.

As the third generation of family ownership of The Scranton Times, which has grown to become Times-Shamrock Communications, they inherited enormous leadership responsibility upon the sudden death of their father, Edward J. Lynett Sr. Much like their father’s connectivity with the University, they have continued to maintain their relationship with the University as a family over the past few decades, so it is most appropriate that they are honored collectively.

The Scranton Times was founded in 1870 and struggled under six owners before their grandfather, E.J. Lynett, bought the paper in 1895. E.J. Lynett came to the newspaper business with a background as an anthracite breakerboy, a clerk in the mayor’s office, a “little schooling in the law,” and newspaper editor. During the strike of 1900, while other Scranton newspapers were urging the miners to “go slow,” The Scranton Times was supporting the miners and gaining in circulation. Within 20 years, The Scranton Times was the dominant newspaper in northeastern Pennsylvania, and the third-largest in the state (behind only the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Pittsburgh Press).

In 1922, E.J. Lynett signed on one of Scranton’s first radio stations, still operated by the company today as WEJL, becoming the first newspaper in the country to also own a radio station. The descendants of E.J. Lynett were born and bred to be in the newspaper business. Under the stewardship of the third generation Lynetts, their business has flourished.

The Scranton Times became the first daily paper in the region to run color photos. They built a new state-of-the-art facility in Scott Township, outside of Scranton, that improved printing production, quality, efficiency and capacity. They expanded their market through acquisition and the development of new publications. This past February, they completed their successful transition to the fourth generation of leadership (Matthew Haggerty, Bobby Lynett, George V. Lynett Jr., and Scott Lynett). Today, Times-Shamrock Communications currently controls 28 newsprint operations in seven states, 11 broadcast radio stations in five states, an internet division and four separate corporations servicing the newspaper printing and distribution process.

Natives of Scranton, The Lynett-Haggerty Family is very active in the local community through their service on numerous boards and philanthropic interests. Strong supporters of Catholic and Jesuit education, their family has been extremely generous with their time, talent and financial contributions to the University, a tradition of service that continues into the fourth generation. Cecelia, Ed, George, Bill and Cecelia’s late husband, Attorney Jim Haggerty, are all past Board of Trustee members, with Ed and Jim Haggerty also serving as Board Chair.

In presenting an Honoree with the President’s Medal the University and the PBC recognize excellence in their field and extraordinary compassion for others. Proceeds from the Annual Award Dinner support the University’s Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund. For more information on the PBC or the dinner, please contact Timothy J. Pryle ’89, executive director, at (570) 941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu, and visit our website at www.scranton.edu/pbc.