Robert Withers Goodell (1904-1968) was a former editor of the San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. 

Goodell served as the managing editor of the Telegram-Tribune from October 1943 to October 1944 and as editor until June 1963.

Goodell anticipated the growth of the county in the 1940s and his editorials "vigorously supported" highway construction, local school development, low-cost housing, and water projects such as the Whale Rock Dam. During World War II he advocated for families of men stationed at Camp San Luis Obispo and opposed the internment of Japanese-Americans. In the 1950s he advocated for migrant farmworkers in Nipomo.

Goodell left the Telegram-Tribune in June 1963 and worked in Sacramento as a public information officer for the Department of Water Resources. He passed away on July 2, 1968 at the age of 68.

Citations

Cattaneo, Bill. "Bill Goodell: Editor, Actor, Athlete." San Luis Obispo County Telegram-Tribune, May 11, 1993, pg. 37.

Further reading:

Warnagieris, Gregory Robert. "Editor Robert Goodell: A California Independent." Masters Thesis, Cal State Northridge, 1986. ttp://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/131019