"It was very difficult for readers of The Crimson to get balanced news reports on a consistent basis," Decherd says. "We were losing credibility among the many constituencies we served."

While president, Decherd placed a greater emphasis on sports and student life while he strengthened a seriously eroded relationship with the University administration.

"The Crimson was at risk of having undone permanently the relationship had we not been able to re-engage," Decherd says.

While juggling the task of organizing the 100th anniversary celebration of The Crimson, Decherd also managed to raise enough money to purchase an off-set printer for the newspaper.

In the past, editors would take a copy of each page of the next morning's paper and rush it to a contractor, who would shoot a negative and then print the page. Now, all The Crimson's work is done on-site at 14 Plympton St.

Despite all he has accomplished in the field of journalism, Decherd is adamant that he wants to be known first and foremost as a family man.

"My family means everything to me," he says. "There's nothing about professional life that would even substitute."

For a man who runs a family-built empire focused on family values, it seems only fitting the Decherd should be the quintessential family man as well.