Walt Southward, PR exec, newspaperman, dies at 83

Walt Southward, a retired public relations consultant and newspaperman who worked for the former Hilo Tribune-Herald and Honolulu Advertiser died Sunday in Hilo. He was 83.

Southward, a Pittsburgh native, studied journalism and speech at Marshall University and served in the U.S. Army in Korea prior to moving to the Territory of Hawaii in 1959 to help cover statehood for the Tribune-Herald, where he worked until 1962.

After eight years at the Advertiser, Southward became manager of public affairs for Boise Cascade Corp. during the development of Waikoloa, then started his own public relations firm in Hilo in 1977. During his tenure with Boise Cascade, he served as the charter president of the Waikoloa Village Association and also was charter president of the Big Island Golf Courses Association.

Southward also served 12 years as a part-time executive director of the Hawaii Island Contractors’ Association.

Active in community organizations, Southward was president of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce in 1982-83 and served on the board from 1977-98. He was a life member of the Waiakea Lions Club, its president in 1970-71 and served as the Lions International state secretary in 1967-68. He was president of the University of Hawaii at Hilo Athletic Booster Club in 1977-78, was named Booster of the Year in 1974 and was inducted into the UH-Hilo Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.

Southward was founding president of the Big Island Coin Club in 1964, was a life member of the American Numismatic Association and received a national award as outstanding club representative in 1992 and the ANA Presidential Award in 2004.

For almost two decades, he coached the Hilo Comets women’s fast-pitch softball team.

Southward was a charter member of the Big Island Press Club in 1967 and held membership card No. 1. He was BIPC Member of the Year in 1970, 1997 and 1999.

He is survived by his wife, Leilani, and several cousins in Pennsylvania.

Services are private.