SNI sells Lawton (OK) Constitution

LAWTON, OK - Southern Newspapers, Inc. (SNI) has sold The Lawton Constitution to Hillary Communications.

The Constitution has been owned by SNI since April 2018 and during that time has expanded its footprint, now printing over 20 other publications and winning statewide honors for the quality of its work. The announcement was made in the newsroom to all members of The Constitution staff.

“We’re really excited about this new chapter,” said Dustin Hilliary, co-CEO of Hilliary. “We are committed to this community and look forward to working with the staff at the Constitution.”

Leonard Woolsey, president of Southern Newspapers, addressed employees in an early afternoon meeting.

“Southern has enjoyed working with this team since we purchased the newspaper in April 2018,” said Woolsey. “We want to thank everyone for the hard work and your commitment to the goals of this newspaper and Southern Newspapers.”

SNI traces its roots back to Carmage and Martha Ann Walls, legendary Texas newspaper entrepreneurs, and today the company is wholly owned by their daughter, Lissa Walls-Cribb. SNI owns 10 other newspapers throughout the state of Texas.

Hilliary Communications is a family-owned telecommunications company headquartered in Medicine Park, Oklahoma. Begun in 1958 when the Hilliary family purchased Medicine Park Telephone Company, it has grown into one of the largest privately owned broadband providers in Oklahoma.

Hilliary’s other media holdings include the Southwest Ledger, a statewide news and business publication.

John Cribb of Cribb and Associates consulted with Southern Newspapers on this transaction.