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Stauffer Communications

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Stauffer Communications was a privately held media corporation based in Topeka, Kansas, that owned many publications and broadcast outlets, including the Topeka Capital-Journal and WIBW, WIBW-FM, and WIBW-TV. The company operated from 1930 to 1995.[1]

History

The company was founded by Oscar S. Stauffer in 1930 as Stauffer Publications. Oscar Stauffer had started a journalism career at the Emporia Gazette and Kansas City Star, and in 1915 had become the publisher of the Peabody Star. When Stauffer died at age 95 in 1982 the company had grown to include 31 newspapers and broadcast companies in 11 states.[1][2] Oscar Stauffer's son John H. Stauffer became head of the company in 1992.[3]

In 1994, the company arranged to sell its properties to Morris Communications of Augusta, Georgia.[4] The transaction was completed in 1995 for $275 million. At the time of its sale, Stauffer's multi-state operations included 20 daily newspapers, 11 radio stations, 3 magazines, and the broadcast rights to Kansas City Royals baseball.[5] As a condition of the sale, Morris had to sell Stauffer's television holdings. Most of the former Stauffer television holdings, including WIBW-TV, were sold to Benedek Broadcasting in 1996. Morris also sold off all of Stauffer's magazines and its insurance and alarm operations.

Mary Stauffer Brownback, daughter of John Stauffer and granddaughter of Oscar Stauffer, is married to former U.S. Senator and Kansas Governor Sam Brownback.

Properties

Newspapers

Florida

Kansas

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

Oklahoma

South Dakota

Tennessee

Radio

Television

References

  1. ^ a b "Oscar Stauffer". Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame. Kansas Press Association. Archived from the original on January 18, 2004.
  2. ^ Ferguson, Lew. Journalism era ends with sale of Stauffer holdings, Fort Scott Tribune, June 17, 1995
  3. ^ "Stauffer, John H." Kansas Press Association. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  4. ^ "The Media Business; Morris-Stauffer Media Deal". New York Times. July 28, 1994.
  5. ^ "Media Concern Adds 12 Stauffer Papers". New York Times. June 16, 1995.
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