New Boss for the A. P.

"I've given 33 years to the Associated Press, and it's been very demanding,'' said Frank J. Starzel. "I can illustrate it best by repeating something one of my children said to my wife some years ago: 'Is there anything wrong with Daddy? He's going to be home for Thanksgiving.'" Last week the A.P.'s Starzel took a step that will assure him Thanksgivings at home from now on. At 58, seven years short of compulsory retirement age, he is leaving his post as general manager of the world's largest wire service.

Starzel's retirement came as no surprise to A.P. President Benjamin M. McKelway, who was notified of his intent three years ago. As Starzel's successor, the board of directors quickly--and predictably--chose his own second-in-command: Wes Gallagher, 51, a tall, spare and unflamboyant A.P. veteran of 25 years' experience. who has been assistant general manager since 1954.

California-born Wes Gallagher attended the University of San Francisco and Louisiana State University, joined the A.P.'s Buffalo bureau in 1937 after a reporting stint on the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate and State Times (where he covered the assassination of Huey P. Long). Sent to Europe in 1940, he arrived in Copenhagen just in time to witness the Nazi invasion of Denmark. As a war correspondent, he covered the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942, also served in Greece, the Balkans and Austria. He was recalled to A.P.'s New York headquarters in 1951.

Gallagher takes charge of a wire service that expanded by 25% during Frank Starzel's 14-year tenure. A cooperative, the A.P. has a total membership of 8,620, including some 4,500 publications and broadcasting stations abroad. U.S. membership: 1,400 daily newspapers, 350 weekly newspapers and other publications, 2.371 radio and TV stations. United Press International, the other U.S. wire service, claims a total clientele of 6,569, including 2,087 outside the U.S.

Admittedly "confused" by his abrupt elevation, the A.P.'s new general manager has no immediate program beyond reemphasizing the A.P.'s increasing role in interpretive reporting: "To sort out what is important is the primary function of a news service today. We have created, and we will create more, special writers who can concentrate on technical areas."

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