Longtime Chino Valley journalist Al McCombs, 91, dies
Even after selling his newspaper four years ago, Allen P. McCombs, the former owner of the Champion Newspapers in Chino, still would drive to the newspaper office to pen his column, write editorials and publish reader letters.
As publisher emeritus, it’s easy to say that McCombs had newspaper ink in his veins, having been at the helm of the weekly publication for more than six decades. McCombs died March 12, 2021, at age 91 from complications of pneumonia.
His last column, the long-running “Rolltop Roundup” published last month.
McCombs owned the Chino Champion newspaper and other related publications from Oct. 1, 1956, to Jan. 31, 2017. The weekly publication became the voice of the Chino Valley, with McCombs an influencer in Chino-area politics, transportation, development, philanthropy and society life. He sold the newspaper to Will Fleet and Ralph Alldredge of Golden State Newspapers in 2017.
During his career, he advocated for open government, a free press and First Amendment rights. He was given the first Freedom of Information Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 from the California Newspaper Publishers Association, the newspaper reported
in one of two recent stories about his life.
In addition, McCombs was a founding member of the California First Amendment Coalition.
When the 60 Freeway was being laid out, McCombs was a member of the 60 Freeway planning committee. When the State Highway Commission presented a design for a large bridge for Central Avenue to go over the proposed freeway, McCombs objected and instead, pushed for Central Avenue going through and the freeway lanes dug underneath, explained Fleet on Tuesday.
“He didn’t want a bridge over the freeway. He felt it would divide the town,” Fleet said, saying the anecdote is just one example of McCombs’ involvement in shaping the city of Chino.
Fleet, the current owner and publisher of the Chino Newspapers, was the former publisher of the Fresno Bee. He knew McCombs from newspaper circles in California since the 1980s, he said, including in 2005 when Fleet was president of the CNPA and McCombs was on the board.
In the last four years, he learned from readers, residents and staffers about the long reach McCombs had into the formation and subsequent development of Chino and Chino Hills, from dairy farms and cattle ranches into growing exurbs.
“Some people in our business are content to shout from the sidelines, but Al always put himself in the game when it came to community involvement,” Fleet said.
McCombs was born Aug. 8, 1929, in Oakland and grew up in Berkeley, graduating from Berkeley High School in 1947, the newspaper reported on March 12. His parents were Philip and Ceda McCombs, the newspaper reported.
McCombs is survived by his son, Bill, his daughterin-law Brandi, grandson Nic, and brother John McCombs. His wife, Gretchen McCombs, is deceased.
No services are planned, Fleet said.