Maurice “Buddy” King, Texarkana Gazette publisher and Palmer Newspapers president, will retire in May after more than half a century in the newspaper business.
King, 68, who in 2006 became the first non-family publisher of the Gazette since Clyde Palmer bought the newspaper in the 1920s, became the Gazette’s general manager in December 1988. Ten years later, King was named Palmer Newspapers’ president.
King got his start in the newspaper business in 1956 while working as a Paragould Daily Press carrier. After four years in the U.S. Navy, King returned to the Daily Press and then graduated from Arkansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in business with a journalism minor. He became publisher of the Malvern Daily Record in 1982, then managed six Alabama newspapers before joining the Texarkana Gazette.
Walter Hussman Jr., chief executive officer of WEHCO Media and publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, said King combined strong management and leadership skills, a rare quality to possess both.
“It’s been a terrific journey. Buddy is an outstanding newspaperman,” Hussman said.
King’s responsibilities as newspaper group president will be assumed by Terri Leifeste of the Jefferson City, Mo., News Tribune. A Gazette general manager will be named later.
Business, Pages 70 on 02/23/2014