
ELDRIDGE – William “Bill” Tubbs – the former owner of the North Scott Press newspaper and a longtime community leader and philanthropist – died on Friday, Sept. 20, at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. He was 75.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Fine Arts Center at North Scott High School in Eldridge. Chambers Funeral Home of Eldridge is assisting the family with arrangements. Visitation is 3-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at the Eldridge United Methodist Church and one hour prior to services on Saturday, Sept. 28. (More details on funeral arrangements can be found here.)

Mr. Tubbs and his wife, Linda, were the longtime owners of the North Scott Press since 1971. He later became owner of the Wilton-Durant Advocate News and the West Liberty Index newspapers. They sold the newspaper group in August of 2022 to businessman J. Louis “Louie” Mullen. When the paper was sold, Linda Tubbs retired, while Mr. Tubbs continued submitting his column “Impressions” and was listed as Publisher Emeritus on the staff. That column has appeared in the North Scott Press since 1971.
In fact, the last paragraph of his column that appeared on Aug. 28 read: “As for me, I’ll be taking it easy, mostly at home, scheduling another heart valve surgery in Madison. Prayers are welcome and appreciated.”
“He believed success was best achieved when stakeholders have accurate information, and he dedicated his life to that principle, providing opportunities for many journalists who became difference makers,” according to his obituary.
Erin Gentz, editor of The North Scott Press, called Mr. Tubbs’ impact on the community incredible and incalculable.
“His impact on the community began with his earliest days at the Press. Because part of his job was to improve circulation and ad revenue, he immediately went to work gaining the trust of the community. He was a charter member of his church in 1972, and was a charter member of North Scott Rotary in 1973. Locally, he was on many committees, including one that led to the formation of the Eldridge Community Center and Skatepark in the 1980s,” Ms. Gentz said in an emailed comment to the QCBJ on Monday.
“I think he saw his work with the newspaper as a genuine call to community service, and he believed in the power of journalism to engage and inform the community.”
She added: “Even though he sold the paper just over two years ago, he was still in the office nearly every day, still writing a column almost every week, and providing advice when it was needed. We will miss him very much.”
Scott Campbell, former NSP editor, worked side by side with Mr. Tubbs for more than 40 years. He said Mr. Tubbs believed in making a positive difference in the community.
“Bill was the consummate community journalist. He believed in the power of the printed word, and was an advocate for transparency and Freedom of Information. His commitment to his craft, and his community, was unparalleled. His handprint is all over Eldridge, as he championed such projects as the Scott County Library, the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium, the Eldridge Community Center and countless others. Bill had an opinion on everything, and he believed in making a difference, leaving an impact, and making our communities the best they can be,” Mr. Campbell said in an emailed comment to the QCBJ.
In addition to working with the area weekly newspapers, Bill and Linda Tubbs were involved with many community organizations. Some of those groups include the NS Strategic Planning Committee, the Eldridge Community Center Committee, North Scott Chamber of Commerce, Moonlight Chase, area booster clubs, PFLAG, youth sports, PTA, Hospice Care of Scott County, and the Scott County Library System.
Mr. Tubbs was a 40-year member and a past president and past executive secretary of North Scott Rotary, a Paul Harris Fellow, a past District Governor of Rotary District 6000, and served as the personal representative of the President of Rotary International. He served on the eight-member Rotary International Public Image Resource Group and the Iowa Public TV Foundation board, according to information on the North Scott Press website.
Also, Mr. Tubbs has received many awards over the years from the Iowa Newspaper Association. Some of those honors include Master Editor-Publisher in 1995 and the INA’s Distinguished Service Award for service to his community and the newspaper industry. He was named Iowa Citizen of the Year in 1993 by ISU Extension and a “Friend of Iowa Newspapers” by the INA. He was included among the Legacy Leaders in the QCBJ’s first-ever edition of Regional Leaders in January 2024.