Underwood, Agness Wilson (1902–1984)

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Underwood, Agness Wilson (1902–1984)

American journalist. Name variations: Aggie Underwood. Born Agness Wilson, Dec 17, 1902, in San Francisco, California; died July 3, 1984, in Greeley, Colorado; dau. of Cliff Wilson and Mamie (Sullivan) Wilson; married and div.; children: Mary Evelyn Underwood (who m. William A. Weed); H. George M. Underwood.

The 1st woman city editor of a major daily newspaper, worked as a reporter for Los Angeles Review (1931–35); served as police-beat reporter for Los Angeles Herald-Express (1935–47, which later became the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner); became the paper's city editor (1947), the 1st woman to hold that job at any major daily in the country; appointed assistant managing editor of Herald-Examiner (1964), a post she held until retirement (1968).

See also autobiography, Newspaper Woman (1949).