For more than four decades, Dave Zweifel helped shape the voice of The Capital Times in Madison, ultimately serving as its editor in chief until 2008. A proud New Glarus High School graduate, Zweifel’s journey from publishing his own paper as a teenager to leading one of Wisconsin’s most prominent progressive newspapers is a story rooted in hard work, curiosity, and a deep commitment to truth-telling.

Zweifel joined The Capital Times the day after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1962. He was hired by the paper’s legendary founder, William T. Evjue. “I got to know Mr. Evjue even before I started (working there) because I sucked up all my courage and walked from the UW campus to his house on Lake Mendota to ask him for a job,” Zweifel said. “He taught me to keep your word. But when working for him, he also taught me to dig deep to find the real story, especially when dealing with politicians, most of whom he never trusted.”