1981-82 O.G. Speedy Nieman Hereford Brand

O.G. “Speedy” Nieman, 104th president, was a native of Lamesa. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in journalism in 1954.

Nieman died April 19, 1999, in Amarillo following a lengthy illness. He was 70.

It was in high school that Nieman picked up the nickname “Speedy,” earning athletic awards in football, basketball and track and playing American Legion baseball.

After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1948-50 he returned to Lamesa and went to work on his hometown paper, The Reporter, as sports editor. A year later, he was promoted to editor.

In 1954 he joined the sports staff of the San Angelo Standard-Times at $85 a week.

He transferred to Brownfield as editor in 1962 and was a special assignments reporter for the Midland Reporter-Telegram before he and Wendell Tooley joined to purchase The Slaton Slatonite in 1964.

Tooley and Nieman joined with two other publishers in 1965 and established Blanco Offset Printing in Floydada.

In 1972 Nieman joined James Roberts and moved to Hereford as a partner and president of The Brand. Nieman also was president of North Plains Printing Co. of Hereford.

Nieman was president of West Texas Press Association (1969-70) and Panhandle Press Association (1975-76).

He and wife, Lavon, had two sons.