| December 2007 | |
All In the FamilyNewspapers continue strong tradition under 4th generationBy Pauline Word
In today’s marketplace few businesses have been operating more than 50 years let alone in
the same family. But newspapers aren’t like other businesses. They’re a unique breed steeped in tradition and history. In fact, on average, Texas newspapers have been in business for 82.1 years. That’s something to boast about. But even more impressive is a newspaper with four generations of family members involved in the business. Texas has at least nine newspapers that fit that bill. Oldest FourthThe Rains County Leader in Emory is the oldest Texas newspaper still in one family. Tom W. Hill Sr. purchased the newspaper in 1904 and was publisher until 1937. Tom’s son, Earl Hill Sr., was editor and publisher until his death in 1960 when his sister, Kathleen Hill Becknell, became editor and publisher until her death in 1995. Earl Hill Jr. returned to Emory in 1995 and became publisher, a title he still holds today. His son, Earl Hill III, Tom Hill’s great-grandson, is sports editor. Earl Hill Jr. is proud that his son left another career to join him at the newspaper in 2000 and establish a fourth generation. He said his son took the weekly to a new dimension by creating a popular online edition. “We’re really proud of that. We’ve got quite a few online readers,” Earl Hill Jr. said. The Rains County Leader also is the oldest continuous business in Rains County. “You’re part of the community. Your roots are here,” Earl Hill Jr. said. Mother-Son FourthThe Gilmer Mirror has been in the same family since Aug. 12, 1915, when George Tucker bought a half interest in the Mirror and a year later bought the remaining interest. In 1924 Tucker’s daughter, Georgia, and her husband, Russell Laschinger, joined the paper and took over as publishers after Tucker’s death in 1934. Their daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Ray H. Greene, became partners in 1953 and later co-publishers. Sarah Greene, who was president of Texas Press Association in 1995-96, became publisher emerita in 2006 when her son William R. “Russ” Greene took over as publisher. “I’m glad it’s still in the family. It’s not anything I planned but I’m glad it worked out,” Sarah Greene said. Russ Greene was a lawyer before joining his mother as co-publisher at The Mirror about four years ago. He said the newspaper business has changed substantially since he was young, watching his parents run the Mirror. “When I was a kid there was a potential advertiser in every building in downtown (Gilmer),” he said. Russ Greene said maintaining the Mirror’s online presence is now key to the longevity of the newspaper. Brother-Sister FourthThe Rockdale Reporter traces its current family roots to 1911 when John Esten Cooke purchased the
newspaper. He was editor-publisher until 1936 when he was appointed Rockdale’s postmaster. He also was TPA’s 1920-21 president. His son, W.H. Cooke, assumed ownership as editor-publisher in 1936. W.H. Cooke and his son, John W. “Bill” Cooke, who joined the paper as editor in 1959, formed a partnership in 1971 and Bill Cooke purchased his father’s interest in 1984. This fall the newspaper passed into the fourth generation with Bill Cooke’s son, Ken Esten Cooke, taking over as publisher and managing editor, and Bill’s daughter, Kathy Cooke Martin, being named assistant publisher and advertising
director. Much like the fourth generation in Emory, Bill Cooke credited his son with bringing the Reporter into the next generation of production and technology. “Ken has really taken the latest generation of production and done a great job of it,” he said. Bill Cooke said newspapers are ingrained in the Cooke line as each generation
grew up in the business. His other son, Jeff, also is in newspapers in
advertising at the Greensheet in Houston. Bill Cooke said the Reporter’s longevity is tied to the long success of the town of Rockdale. “The paper has been strong through all the generations,” Bill Cooke said. New FourthThe Lampasas Dispatch Record also has a fourth generation now working at the newspaper. Jim and Gail Lowe are the publishers and their son, David, just joined the staff as reporter and photographer this summer. “We really are excited to be carrying on the legacy,” Jim Lowe said. David Lowe attended college in Hillsdale, Mich., and his father said being away at school helped David appreciate Texas and his newspaper roots even more. “It’s just a lot of fun to be able to work with your son in the business. I didn’t realize how fun it would be,” Jim Lowe said. The newspaper came into the Lowe family in 1947 when Ward Lowe, his father E.C. Lowe, and two other men established The Lampasas Dispatch. Lowe and his father became sole owners two years later, and Ward Lowe was named publisher. Ward Lowe bought the remaining stock from his mother in 1965. E.C. Lowe died in 1950. In 1958 Ward Lowe purchased The Lampasas Record, which was founded in 1920. In 1972 Ward Lowe died and his wife, Joyce, assumed the duties of publisher. Their sons, Fred and Jim were co-owners until Fred Lowe, who was president of TPA in 1988-89, died in 2005. Jim Lowe said issues such as estate tax and competing interests make it hard for any business to stay in a family for four generations. “It’s very hard to carry on a legacy,” he said.
Other Fourths
In Beeville, Jeff and Chip Latcham are the fourth-generation publishers of the Beeville Bee-Picayune. The Beeville Bee appeared in May 1886. In 1890 two brothers, Carl and M.M. McFarland, came from New Orleans and established the rival Beeville Daily Picayune, which soon after became a weekly. Thomas R. Atkins bought the Picayune in 1894 and kept it until 1903, but his son, George H. Atkins, regained sole interest in 1907 and remained publisher until 1928. When Beeville Publishing Co. Inc. was formed he became the publisher of the Bee-Picayune until his death in 1959. George Atkins’ son-in-law, Fred C. Latcham Jr., became publisher in 1959 and continued until the mid 1990s when his sons, Jeff and Chip, became co-publishers. The Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune has a fourth generation of Palmers as well. The newspaper family roots start in January 1941 when J. Frank Palmer, his wife Hazel and two sons, Lloyd F. and Robert B., purchased the weekly Titus County Tribune in Mount Pleasant. In fall 1965 Robert B., added another publication day each week. In 1968 the semiweekly became a daily, and changed its name to the Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune. In April 1972 his son, Robert L. Palmer, joined the paper. Now he is the editor-publisher and president of the company. His two sisters, Frances Palmer Lobpries and Barbara Palmer Caldwell, and his children, Amber and Blake, serve on the board of directors. Blake also works with his father on a daily basis, serving as vice president and assistant publisher for Palmer Media and vice president for NorTex Press in charge of weekly operations. NorTex owns the Clarksville Times and two weeklies in Arkansas. “His intent is that he wants to follow me into the business,” Robert. L. Palmer said of his son, who also served in the armed forces in Afghanistan. The Devine News also is in its fourth generation, starting with Charlie Paine DuBose, his son, William Lafayette DuBose, his grandson, Charlie Pat DuBose, and his great-granddaughter Kathleen DuBose Calame, who took over as publisher in February 2007. Pat and Kitty DuBose worked side by side at the Devine News for most of their 45 years of marriage. The Devine family tradition also included brothers W.L. and Wade DuBose, and uncle Matt DuBose and others. At the Daily Commercial Record in Dallas Emily Cates Lee is the fourth generation. She is the editor. Her great-grandfather William H. Taliafferro published the Record from 1911-52. His daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn Taliafferro Cates and Nuel Cates Sr., ran the paper from 1952-77 until their son, E. Nuel Cates, Emily Cates Lee’s father, took over. “You kind of learn from the way you dealt with your parents to how you deal with
your child,” E. Nuel Cates said. “That’s how we’ve been successful.” Cates said he originally did not think either of his two daughters would want to get involved in the newspaper but he is pleased Emily chose to follow in the family footsteps. “It’s really good to have her. The older you get it’s nice to have someone with a young mind,” Cates joked. In Comanche, the first Comanche Chief was published in 1873 when Comanche was at the western edge of the frontier of Texas. The editor of that first edition was G.A. Beeman. In 1896 Sidney J. Thomas purchased the newspaper. He was elected Texas Press Association president in 1904. James C. Wilkerson purchased the newspaper in the 1920s and it continues to be owned and published by the Wilkerson family. The present editor and publisher is James C. Wilkerson III with his son, Lance M. Wilkerson, as associate editor — a fourth generation Wilkerson. The Fifth
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