N. COUNTY PUBLISHER MADE MARK
Missett spent 30 years at newspaper that became North County Times
TOM MISSETT • 1940-2020
One of North County’s most colorful and influential figures, longtime newspaper publisher Tom Missett, died at his home Wednesday morning in Vista.
Missett, 79, was hired in 1967 as publisher of the Oceanside Bladetribune, which later became the Blade-citizen and eventually the North County Times. After 30 years at the helm, Missett retired in 1997. The San Diego Union-tribune bought the North County Times in 2012 and still employs some of its editorial staff.
“Tom was a bigger-than-life figure,” said Ken Leighton, a freelance writer whose music reviews were printed in the Blade-tribune in the 1970s.
“He was one of the funniest guys I ever met,” Leighton said. “He had all sorts of stories ... (about) Oceanside’s pillars of the community, their backgrounds and crazy stuff they did.”
Former Blade-citizen editorial page editor Jim Trageser remembered a time Missett called him into his office to talk about an opinion piece.
“He’s got his phone on speaker, and a really angry man on the other end is just going ballistic about that day’s unsigned editorial, calling Tom every vile name in the book,” Trageser said.
The publisher told the caller they could “agree to disagree,” but the man’s tirade continued to escalate until the man said, “I’ll have you know I’m a subscriber.”
“Well, that does change things,” Missett replied in his slow South
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ern drawl. “What’s your address? ... I’m canceling your subscription.”
Missett and his older brother, editor Bill Missett, ran the newspaper during a period of prosperity, when circulation and advertising increased, and Oceanside and the surrounding communities grew rapidly.
Together, the Missetts built the newspaper’s reputation for hard-nosed reporting, focused on news and politics.
“Tom and Bill would fight sometimes, because the both cared deeply,” Leighton said. “But Tom always stood up for his brother and the staff to get the true story out. He was always 100 percent ethical. He really loved the thrill of bringing into the light what should not be left in the dark, the whole journalism thing.”
Tom Missett could often be found at the Hungry Hunter, the Acapulco and other Oceanside hangouts having lunch or drinks with regional movers and shakers.
Tom Missett hired Tony Pallotto, the newspaper’s former advertising and marketing director, in 1982.
“God only knows where I would be without his help,” Pallotto said. “He was always good with people.”
One time Pallotto caught an ad salesman trying to take advantage of the commission structure, he said. Pallotto wanted to fire the man on the spot, but Missett told him to take a little time to cool off.
“Half an hour later he sticks his head in my office and says, ‘Give him at least two weeks’ severance. Don’t ever put anybody on the street without putting money in their pocket.’”
Oceanside Historical Society founder and board member John Daley recalled that the Missetts were a behind-the-scenes force in local politics for many years.
“The Blade was the only place to find news about North County,” Daley said. “That all changed with the Internet.”
Tom Missett also oversaw the newspaper’s contract in the 1990s and early 2000s to publish The Scout, a small military paper printed for Camp Pendleton.
“Among the Marines he was highly esteemed,” said Brian Lamay, who worked 16 years at the Scout as a civilian staff writer and later as sports editor. “He always had an excellent rapport with whoever was the director of public affairs.
“He cared about the product,” Lemay said. “He was really supportive of the staff and good with the brass. He navigated those arenas well.”
Missett was diagnosed with prostate cancer 15 years ago, and his condition worsened significantly in recent months, said his son Mike Missett.
“He loved Oceanside,” Mike Missett said. “He was really proud of the things he accomplished. He and Bill held people’s feet to the fire.”
He is survived by two brothers, Jack of Carlsbad and Jim of Tupelo, Miss.; sister Mary Kate Missett; life partner Dinah Minteer; former wife Sandra Missett; children Joan, Mike, Kathy and Austin; along with six grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
His brother Bill Missett died in 2016.