Odessa in Ector County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Ector County Newspapers
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 10, 2015
1. Ector County Newspapers Marker
In 1895, William C. "Uncle Billy" Griffin came to Odessa from Midland and began publishing Ector County's first Newspaper, the Odessa "Weekly News". The "Weekly News" lasted only a year, and was followed by six other short-lived weekly publications until Aug. 1927, when production of the Odessa "Times" and Odessa "News" began. In Oct. 1928, the two weekly papers were merged as the Odessa "News-Times".
The towns of Penwell and Goldsmith supported for a short time, during the oil boom of the 1930s, the only Ector County newspapers known to have been published outside of Odessa.
The first daily newspaper, the "Daily Bulletin", began in 1936. The "News-Times" followed with a daily in 1937. On Oct. 2, 1940, R. Henderson Shuffler consolidated the "Daily Bulletin" and the "News-Times" into the Odessa "American", which he sold on Aug. 11, 1945. Ownership of the newspaper changed twice before Aug. 13, 1948, when it was purchased by Raymond Cyrus Hoiles of Freedom Newspapers, Inc. V. L. Debolt was appointed publisher and has held that position for 26 years.
The Odessa "American" has withstood brief competition from 5 newspapers since its first publication and has been published at this site since 1951.
Erected 1974 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1383.)
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.
Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 31° 50.907′ N, 102° 22.018′ W. Marker was in Odessa, Texas, in Ector County. It was on East 4th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 222 East 4th Street, Odessa TX 79761, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in West Texas. It was also in the American Southwest. Globally, it was in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain, the Comancherνa, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Tom Lea's "Stampede" (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Texas Longhorns (about 600 feet away); Ector County Land Rush (about 700 feet away); General Matthew D. Ector (about 700 feet away); Ector County Courthouse (about 700 feet away); Site of The Odessa Sanitarium (approx. 0.2 miles away); First National Bank of Odessa (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of Livery Stable and Wagon Yard (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Odessa.
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 10, 2015
2. Ector County Newspapers Marker
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 10, 2015
3. Ector County Newspapers Marker
Photographed by Bryce Rushing, circa February 8, 2026
4. Ector County Newspapers Marker - Missing Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 673 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 19, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 4. submitted on February 8, 2026, by Bryce Rushing of Kermit, Texas. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
