Peter H. King

Peter H. King, a native of Fresno, attended Cal Poly SLO from fall 1973 to fall 1977. He was appointed co-Editor of the Mustang Daily in 1976, teaming with the late Fred Vulin. In his senior year, King left Poly to work full-time at the Fresno Bee, launching a 40-year "senior project" in newspapers that included stops at the Associated Press, San Francisco Examiner, Sacramento Bee, and the Los Angeles Times. He spent over three decades at the Times, serving variously as staff writer, city editor, senior correspondent, and columnist. Among other honors, he played a role in two staff Pulitzers. He was named a Pulitzer Finalist in 1994 for his California and the West commentaries. He later directed media relations and strategic communications for the President of the University of California. Officially retired, he continues to pursue writing and consulting projects. He lives in Orinda, California, with his wife of 38 years, Maura Dolan, a distinguished LA Times reporter. They raised two children, Mary Ellen and James, and now are governed by two, going on three, grandchildren.