Charles P. Doud, 79, owner and publisher of The Madera Tribune, died on Jan. 6, 2021, at Madera Community Hospital following cardiac complications. He was born in Preston, Idaho on Sept. 12, 1941, to his mother, Afton Packard Doud, and father Carlton Horace Doud.

When he was 14 years old, he began working as an apprentice printer, working long hours and learning all aspects of the printing business. These skills helped him excel at the many newspapers, where he worked throughout his life.  He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism from the prestigious Columbia School of Journalism at the University of Missouri.

In the 1980s, while working at the Tacoma News Tribune, he worked closely with the family and legal team in the high-profile murder trial of Ted Bundy.

He was so loved and truly cherished by every community he served, and most treasured by his family, said his children. They loved sitting at the family breakfast table, listening to him tell stories of their family, history, and current events. A gifted storyteller, he always had a smile on his face and would whistle a song for every movement that he made.

He, along with his late wife Annette Nordine Doud, moved to Madera in 2002 to become managing editor of the Madera Tribune. While Annette sold retail advertising, he began the task of organizing his editorial staff. The paper had experienced a long line of managers and its practices were somewhat in disarray. He soon had his staff working together in a cohesive manner putting out some of the best editions of the Tribune seen in many years.

He focused on the type of stories important to a growing community, stories that could only be found on the pages of a local newspaper. Accomplishments of area residents such as honor rolls, sporting events, and recipes were submitted by the people of the community. He once said the biggest complaint from his subscribers was that the typeface was too small and the printers’ ink rubbed off on their hands. He set about to remedy both of these problems. Every edition of his six-day, and later two-day, the newspaper contained plenty of photos and stories of local interest.

Reports of city and county meetings ran alongside the achievements of everyday people, striving to contribute to the improvement of their hometown. Service clubs, schools, and government agencies all found space in his Madera Tribune. Just two years after his arrival in Madera, the owners of the Tribune’s parent company, Pacific Sierra Publishing of St. Louis, Mo, decided to sell its holdings in the California newspaper industry. The McClatchy organization placed a bid for all its newspapers except the Turlock Journal and the Madera Tribune.

After much thought, Chuck and Annette Doud put together a group of investors, many of them local, and incorporated Madera Printing and Publishing on March 18, 2004. Trained by Toastmaster International, he became a popular speaker for various groups while drumming up support for The Madera Tribune.

Before they moved to Madera, many other service organizations benefitted from his participation. These boards included the Phippen Museum of Western Art in Arizona and the Associated Press Managers and Editors, where he served as president-elect.

He served on the Bench Bar Press Committee in Oregon. This committee consisted of members from the Oregon State Bar and the Newspaper Publishers and Broadcasters Association. Upholding freedom of the press, it developed guidelines for the disclosure and reporting of information in criminal proceedings.

While running the Tribune, he joined local service organizations including Kiwanis; he served as an officer of the Friends of the Madera County Library; and was a part of the Madera Chamber of Commerce, Madera County Behavioral Health, and Madera County Arts Council boards. He was named an Honorary Rotarian for his support of their ideals and his service to the community.

When he first came to Madera, the Douds visited many of the town’s churches. At the time of his death, he was a member of the United Methodist Church serving on the finance and missions committees, church council, and as a worship leader.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Annette Nordine-Doud.

He is survived by his sister, Carolyn Bright, his blended family of adult children, Greg Doud, Elizabeth Doud, Ann Hernandez, Mary Doud, Kurt Batdorf, Kraig Batdorf, grandchildren, Keenan Doud, Chloe Doud, and Alexander Hernandez and his former wives Cathy Herring and Judith Isaacs.

He will be missed by his loving companion Bonnie Mazzoni, his rescue dog, Tribbie, his many friends, and his staff at The Madera Tribune. A celebration of his life is being planned for later this year.