As near as I can remember, they never mentioned who had the job before Perry. The only mention I could recall of Perry before he was EIC was in 'All Shook Up' when he gives Jimmy an old typewriter and tells him that Clete Johnson took it all over the world for the DP before giving it to Perry when he was still a copy boy. Perhaps Clete gave it to Perry because he had become editor and was no longer writing?

Lois: You know, I have a funny feeling that you didn't tell me your biggest secret.

Clark: Well, just to put your little mind at ease, Lois, you're right.
Ides of Metropolis