Schmitty and Web Hawkins |
"In 1959 Web signed a contract to run Nelson Reppert's Osawatomie Graphic-News for two years and to buy a half-interest in the paper," Eblen writes. "Within two years, Web and Gladys, known as Schmitty in the newspaper fraternity, had completed the purchase and later official changed the name to the Osawatomie Graphic. Then it was off to the races, Web doing the journalism that he loved and Schmitty keeping an eagle eye on the business side. They were a power couple before power couples were featured in the popular press."
"The Hawkinses eventually owned several weeklies in Kansas, including the Louisburg Herald, Emporia Times, Linn County News and had partial interest in the Hillsboro Star-Journal and Herington Times," Eblen writes. Web also was involved in the Kansas Press Association, which he served as president in 1970. "He was president of the National Newspaper Association in 1988; KPA awarded him the Clyde M. Reed Master Editor Award in 1996 and the KPA Hall of Fame in 2005. He also served on the Columbia Missourian's board of directors for several years. In 1998, Web and Schmitty retired." (Best Places map)
Osawatomie native Larry Byers, who worked for Web several years before taking over the Herington Times, with purchasing help from Web, told Eblen, "I know that Web and Schmitty put a lot of thought on the matter over a long period of time. The foundation will prove most beneficial to Osawatomie residents for decades to come. The people of Osawatomie will eventually come to recognize that Web and Schmitty were genuinely interested in the betterment of their town long after their passing." (Read more)
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