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PRESCOTT — Donald N. Soldwedel, founder and chairman of Western Newspapers Inc., has died at 83.

Soldwedel, who helped transform the Yuma-based newspaper chain into a multimedia enterprise, died Wednesday in Tucson.

The cause of death was not immediately released.

During his 50-plus years as chairman of Western Newspapers, Soldwedel at one time owned all or part of dozens of newspapers throughout Arizona. Western-owned publications include The (Prescott) Daily Courier and Today's News Herald in Lake Havasu. Western formerly owned The Sun in Yuma.

Under Soldwedel's tenure, the company also acquired a sign shop, five real estate magazines, three printing plants, a billboard company, two radio stations and 27 Web sites.

His son, Joe, has been leading Western's daily operations for the past 20 years, but the elder Soldwedel remained involved with the company.

Soldwedel also is credited with bringing the San Diego Padres baseball team to Yuma for spring training.

"He was a great father and leader, and was a superb businessman and diplomat," Joe Soldwedel said. "He had boundless energy and was always the optimist."

Soldwedel, raised in Pekin, Ill., graduated from the University of Arizona in 1946 with a degree in marketing.

In 1953, Soldwedel and his wife, Luda, moved from Tucson to Yuma and helped his father-in-law run The Sun newspaper. Five years later, the family acquired The Daily Courier and began building what would become Western Newspapers.

Soldwedel also remained active in the UA community, serving as president of its alumni association as well as the University Medical Center Corp.

A recipient of several accolades for his leadership and philanthropy, Soldwedel was inducted into the Arizona Newspaper Hall of Fame in 1998.

Besides his wife and son, Soldwedel is survived by a daughter, Ann, and three grandchildren including Kelly Soldwedel, general manager of Prescott Newspapers Inc.

A private memorial service was planned.