Laurence (Laurie) Paddock's entire working career was with the Daily Camera, founded by his grandfather and published by his father, A.A. (Gov) Paddock. Laurie started as a janitor and mailer for the newspaper and rose to editor and publisher.

His first jobs came during World War II when he was in high school. After Army service, he was a reporter and photographer during vacations from the University of Colorado where he received a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1950.

Also in 1950, at St. John's Episcopal Church, the Boulder native married Harriett L. Lehnan of Boulder.

Following graduation, Laurie worked full time at the Camera and on Jan. 1, 1960, he was named editor of the family-owned paper, succeeding his father and grandfather. He gave up the old Oliver typewriter favored by his father and worked on an electric typewriter until the computers took over. He also moved out the linotype machines and added a new press. He continued as editor when the paper was sold to Ridder Publications in 1969 and later when it was owned by Knight Ridder. Retiring in August 1983, he was named editor emeritus and served nine additional years on the editorial board.

Glennys McPhilimy, who worked with Laurie at the Camera for 30 years, says it is “hard to imagine Boulder without the Daily Camera; harder still to imagine the Camera's first century without Laurie, his father and grandfather. All who have been privileged to know and work with Laurie have been enriched by his knowledge of Boulder—not only its history, but also its heart and soul.”

The Paddock family, headed by Gov and Annie Laurie Turner Paddock, always had a deep interest in the history of the Boulder area. In addition to being a founder of the Boulder Historical Society—now the Boulder History Museum—Gov retained all the Camera photos and collected others. His son, Laurence, was just as interested and has turned over numerous artifacts from early Boulder to the Boulder History Museum. He helped establish and has added to the A.A. Paddock collection of photographs and documents now housed at the Carnegie Library for Local History.

The Paddocks' son, Eric, is curator of photography for the Colorado Historical Society and son Turner is a science teacher in Missoula, Montana. Laurie and Harriet have two grandchildren.

Laurie has always been active in the community. He served several terms as president of the Boulder Historical Society/Museum of History and additional years as a trustee of the organization. He has also served on the board of the Colorado Historical Society. In 1990, he received an Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History for collecting and preserving history.

His community service has included the Boulder Rotary Club, where he is a past president, chairman of Town and Gown and the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame committee, and other offices of the Chamber of Commerce and Jaycees. He previously served on the vestry and as senor warden of St. Aiden's Episcopal Church.

Laurie received the Stanley Black Award for his record of community service in 2002, particularly for his dedicated service on the Special Transit board. His community service has also extended to CU where he served on the University Alumni Association board.