Ted Warmbold, San Antonio Light Editor, Dies at 45

SAN ANTONIO — Ted Warmbold, editor of the San Antonio Light, died Saturday after a 10-day illness at the age of 45.

Warmbold, former executive editor of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, also held executive titles with newspapers in Rochester, N.Y., San Bernardino and Dallas. He had been the chief news executive at the Light since joining the newspaper in June, 1981.

“Ted was the most talented editor I have had the privilege of working with during my almost 25 years in the newspaper business,” said publisher George B. Irish.

The newspaper said Warmbold died at Humana Metropolitan Hospital after a bout with cryptococcal meningitis.

The disease is an opportunistic infection in people whose immune system is weakened, including victims of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants, said Dr. Ron Kennedy, a researcher at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research.

Attended Seminary Schools

A native of St. Louis, Warmbold attended various seminary schools before transferring to the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where he received his degree.

In 1969, Warmbold was named assistant managing editor at the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and, in 1972, Gannett named him managing editor of the San Bernardino Sun-Telegram.

He left Gannett in 1975 and became assistant managing editor of the Dallas Times Herald and the following year became executive editor of D Magazine, the city magazine of Dallas and Fort Worth.

In 1977, the Hearst Corp. hired him as executive editor of the Herald Examiner and in 1981, Hearst named him executive editor at the Light. He was promoted to editor in 1986.

He is survived by his wife, his mother, three sisters and two brothers.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio. Burial will be in St. Louis.