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Scott Newhall, executive editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and great-grandson of the man for whom the town of Newhall was named, has purchased the Newhall Signal, it was announced yesterday by publisher Ray W. Brooks.

The transaction, several weeks in the making, will become effective November 1.

Newhall immediately named Davis Bynum, a member of his Chronicle staff, to become the Signal's publisher. Bynum is a former staff writer and currently assistant promotion director of The Chronicle. He will assume his new office here November 15.

Brooks, who purchased the paper last May from Fred and Richard Trueblood, will remain as consultant. In a statement yesterday he emphasized that he was "retiring from the newspaper business, but not from the publishing business." Brooks is president of Foothill Publishing Co., which owns the press on which the Signal is printed. He cited the extra work load of operating both the Foothill Publishing Co. and the newspaper as his primary reason for selling the Signal.

Newhall, 49, is the great grandson of Henry Mayo Newhall, who acquired the former San Francisco land grant in this valley in the 1870s. In a statement yesterday, he described his acquisition of the Signal as a fulfillment of a dream, which began during his boyhood, when he spent summers here and "became enchanted with this whole wonderful valley." Newhall said that today he is "even more convinced that this land is destined for greatness, excitement, and lasting beauty."

"We shall strive to make the Signal truly: "The best newspaper in the world. For the best people in the world," he concluded.

Newhall brings a long newspaper experience to the Signal. He began his career as a photographer on the San Francisco Chronicle in 1935 and prior to becoming executive editor in 1952, served that newspaper as editor of This World Magazine, a Sunday supplement, as Sunday Editor and as Operations Manager. During World War II, he was also a war correspondent.

Newhall has twice been a juror of the Pulitzer Awards and has served on several committees of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. He is a classic car enthusiast and finds time in his busy schedule to restore old cars. Several have won top awards in concours competition.

Newhall is married and lives with his wife, Ruth, in Berkeley. He has three sons, Nicholas, 26, a Pasadena engineer, and twins John and Anthony, 22, who are seniors at Stanford University.

Bynum, 38, is a native of Los Angeles County, having graduated from Hoover High School in Glendale. He joined The Chronicle in 1948 after graduating from the University of California and has served as staff writer on This World magazine, as garden editor and as assistant Promotion Director. His wife, Dorothy, and two children, Hampton, 14, and Susan, 11, will remain in Berkeley until the end of the school term in January.

Scott Newhall, center, the great-grandson of the founder of the town of Newhall and San Francisco Chronicle Executive Editor, has purchased both the Record-Ledger of Sunland-Tujunga and the Newhall Signal and Saugus Enterprise from former owner Ray Brooks, right. Davis Bynum, longtime Chronicle staffer, has been named new publisher of both newspapers. Bynum will assume duties Nov. 15. Photo was taken Tuesday in Newhall's office in the bay city when transaction was completed.

The Newhall Signal is the mostd exciting adventure of my entire life.

As a boy I spent many summers travelling up and down the Santa Clara river valley — exploring the canyons, riding through the beautiful fields and scrambling up the hillsides.

I became enchanted with this wonderful valley then — and now, years later, I am even more convinced that this land is destined for greatness — excitement — lasting beauty.

It is a privilege and a responsibility for me to be given a chance to share in this adventure facing all of us.

As our beautiful valley burst with new life we dedicate this newspaper to the ultimate challenge of the American Free Press.

It shall be yours — written about you and for you.

It will fight your fights and proclaim your victories — and perhaps shed your tears.

In short we shall strive to make the Signal truly: "The best newspaper in the world — for the best people in the world."