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

Inscription. 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. 31° 50.907′ N, 102° 22.018′ W. Marker is in Odessa, Texas, in Ector County. Marker is on East 4th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 222 East 4th Street, Odessa TX 79761, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ector County Land Rush (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); 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); Site of Livery Stable and Wagon Yard (approx. 0.2 miles away); Odessa Land & Townsite Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Odessa Telephone Exchange (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Waddell Pecan Tree (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

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 379 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 19, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.