Corsicana Sun marks 130 years

CORSICANA – The Corsicana Sun celebrated the newspaper’s 130th anniversary in March, publishing a commemorative edition published March 1.

The Daily Sun published its first edition on March 2, 1895. W.A. McKenna and Associates leased the plant of the Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light to publish the paper, and the Daily Sun began its life under the care of editor Major Henry Burton.

For its 130th anniversary edition, the staff shared archival photos and a historical timeline. 

Current staff members and alumni shared their insights and stories of what the newspaper means to them and a brief look at the impact the Daily Sun continues to make today.

Today, the Corsicana Daily Sun is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. It is managed by publisher Lange Svehlak and editor Guy Chapman.

According to the commemorative edition, the names that have influenced the pages over the last 130 years range from Fred DuBose, Jerry Strader and Arthur J. Keeney to the modern legacies of Gary Connor, Raymond Linex, Deanna Kirk, Jake Mienk and Michael Kormos. The story said all have shaped the discourse of Corsicana and the greater Navarro County area.

Among those important in the history of the Corsicana Sun was former TPA President Lowry Martin, who was inducted into the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2017.

As TPA president, Martin put on a vigorous membership campaign and enlarged and improved the Texas Press Messenger. He instigated three special “Texas” trains that traveled as goodwill ambassadors to the East to advertise Texas and re-establish confidence in Texas bonds and securities — in 1929 the “All Texas Goodwill Tour,” in 1934 the “Texas Press Special,” and in 1936 the “Texas Centennial Train.”