Wilson Hirschfeld

Who was Wilson Hirschfeld?

Wilson Hirschfeld was a journalist and former managing editor of The Plain Dealer who reportedly once remarked that he knew no one with as much integrity as himself *.

In his teenage years Wilson attended Glenville High School along with Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, graduating in 1934. He served on Glenville High School's student newspaper, "The Torch", alongside Siegel and Shuster. It is believed that Wilson was the model for Superman's alter-ego, Clark Kent.

In 1936 he started his career at The Plain Dealer, delivering newspapers inside the building. Wilson attended Cleveland College of Western Reserve University as a night student, working at the Plain Dealer during the day.

During World War II Wilson served with the United States Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1945 in England, France, and Italy. He was inducted into military service as a private and left active duty as a captain.

After the war Wilson returned to the Plain Dealer as a reporter, covering a variety of assignments and winning numerous awards for his work. Among the variety of posts Wilson held were those of police beat reporter, general assignment reporter, City Editor, State Editor, Transportation Editor, Business Editor and finally the above mentioned Managing Editor. He left the Plain Dealer in 1973.