Memorials › William Jennings “Bill” Bacon

William Jennings “Bill” Bacon

15 Aug 1903 – 25 Jun 1979

Birth15 Aug 1903
Death25 Jun 1979
CemeterySayre-Doxey Cemetery
Sayre , Beckham County , Oklahoma , USA
Added byRob Walker on 27 May 2021
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206161615

Bio

1910 - US Census - Civil District 7, Hawkins, Tennessee Household .........Role ........Sex ......Age Birthplace Charles E Bacon Head .......Male ....33 ..Tennessee Maggie D Bacon Wife .........Female 34 ..Tennessee Jennings Bacon Son ..........Male ....6 ....Tennessee Blanche Bacon ..Daughter Female 4 ....Tennessee Sherald P Bacon Son .........Male ....3 ....Tennessee Margarett Bacon Daughter Female 0 ....Tennessee 1920 - US Census - Civil District 2, Knox, Tennessee Household .............Role ........Sex .....Age Birthplace Charles E Baron .....Head ......Male ....42 ..Tennessee Maggie D Baron .....Wife ........Female 43 ..Tennessee Jennings Baron .....Son .........Male ....16 ..Tennessee Genevere Bacon ....Daughter Female 14 ..Virginia Sherrell P Bacon ....Son .........Male ....12 ..Tennessee Mary Hellen Bacon Daughter Female 10 ....Tennessee Edna Grace Bacon ..Daughter Female 8 ....Tennessee Ruth Ella Bacon ......Daughter Female 5 ....Tennessee Charles H Bacon .....Son .........Male ....3 ....Tennessee Pollyana Bacon .......Daughter Female 1 ....Tennessee 1930 - US Census - Sayre, Beckham, Oklahoma Household ............Role .....Sex ......Age Birthplace Edna N Martin ......Head ....Female 76 ..Illinois Annie S Anderson Roomer Female 54 ..Texas William J Bacon ...Roomer Male ....26 ..Tennessee Sherrill Bacon ......Roomer Male ....21 ..Tennessee 1940 - US Census - Sayre, Beckham, Oklahoma Household .........Role .Sex .....Age Birthplace William J Bacon Head Male ....36 ..Tennessee Una K Bacon ......Wife .Female 28 ..Oklahoma The Sayre Journal, Wednesday, June 13, 1979 pg 1 W. J. Bacon dinner scheduled June 21 SAYRE -- Tickets are now on sale for a dinner honoring W.J. "Bill" Bacon for his contributions to Sayre and western Oklahoma during his 50 years as owner of the Sayre Headlight Journal. Featured speaker will be Governor George Nigh with Senator Gilmer Capps, Representative Willie Rogers and others on the program. The dinner will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at the Sayre Elementary School Cafetorium. Tickets are $4 per person and can be purchased from Ray Roper, Larry Kelley, Harry Patterson or the Sayre chamber of Commerce office. "Tickets must be purchased by Saturday, June 16, so we can have a count of how much food to prepare," Kelley said. Everyone is invited to attend the dinner. The Sayre Journal, Wednesday, June 20, 1979 pg 1 W.J. "Bill" Bacon honored with dinner Thursday SAYRE -- Thursday, June 21, W.J. Bacon will be honored at a dinner for his contributions to Sayre and western Oklahoma during his 50 years as owner of the Sayre Journal. Featured speaker will be Governor George Nigh with Senator Gilmer Capps and Representative Willie Rogers also on the program. With Bacon at the helm, the Sayre Headlight-Journal has been a leader in every progressive endeavor for the betterment of the City of Sayre and the western Oklahoma area. He is proud of the history and progression of the newspaper which will begin its 82nd year Aug. 22. It was the first*(sic) newspaper in western Oklahoma -- established in 1898 by the area's first*(sic) Publisher N.S. Mounts as the Berlin Venture at Berlin which was a principal trading post between Cheyenne and the North Fork of the Red River. The newspaper survived the turbulent days which followed the opening of the Cheyenne-Arapaho country and made steady progress during the time the area was being settled by sturdy pioneers and men of vision who saw this vast domain as a land of opportunity and prosperity. Their visions weren't unfounded and in the early 1900's the Berlin Venture moved to Sayre with the railroad and became the Sayre Venture. Bacon continued to have the vision of the early founders and in 1932 during the dark, lean days of the depression and "Dust Bowl" he changed the paper from a weekly to a daily. "Back during the eary(sic) years when A.F. Current had the paper at Berlin, he took produce, wood or anything he could use to pay for subscriptions -- we did the same thing during the depression -- many subscriptions were paid with poultry, eggs, cotton and used batteries," he said. His trust in the area and vision of development proved to be true and the newspaper has continued as a daily publication for 47 years. Bacon's keen insight into politics has given him an expertise used with subtlety to make him one of the foremost political advocates for the Democratic Party in western Oklahoma. He conducted the first newspaper poll in the state during the race of E. W. Marland for governor. "Our poll was given credit by a lot of people for helping Marland get elected," he said. He has been area campaign manager for all Democratic governors with the exception of Johnston Murray and J. Howard Edmondson and was a delegate to the National Democratic convention in Chicago in 1954 and Los Angeles in 1960. As a member of the committee to plan the state highway system under Governor Marland, he was active in helping to secure adequate highways for the western Oklahoma area. He worked to get SH 152 and US 283 paved and was instrumental in the designation of US 66 as a four-lane highway through the area. "We got a commitment from Governor Raymond Gary to begin building a road at the Texas line and move eastward toward Oklahoma City and the governor kept his word," he said. Some of Bacon's other accomplishments have been helping establish the Sayre Junior College and the Sayre Memorial Hospital. "the college was started during the depression days and some thought it couldn't be done but it had to be done so our young people could have the opportunity to attend college," he said. Today, more than 40 years later, Sayre Junior College is one of the finest junior level institution in the state and is actively supported by Bacon. He and his good friend, Dr. H.K. Speed, worked to establish the Sayre Hospital and Bacon served as a member of the hospital board for many years. He has also served on the advisory board at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, is a member of the Midwestern Oklahoma Development Authority and the Midwestern Oklahoma Industrial Foundation and is an active member of the Sayre Chamber of commerce committee to secure local industry. Bacon was influential in obtaining additional housing through the low-income and middle-income housing and is a charter member of the Sayre Housing Authority. Active in civic affairs, he has served as past president of the Sayre Rotary Club and Sayre Chamber of commerce. He is a charter member of the Woodward Lions Club, has been secretary of the Beckham County election Board and was a member of the State Textbook Commission and is a member of the Methodist Church. A native of Tennessee, he is the eldest of nine children. After graduation from Central High School at Knoxville, Tenn., he attended the University of Oklahoma and majored in journalism. He worked on the Oklahoma Daily in advertising and was on the newspaper the same time A.S. "Mike" Monroney was editor of the publication. Following his graduation, he worked for the Frederick Press, the Frederick Leader, the Altus Times-Democrat, the Woodward Daily Press and the Perry Journal. He was co-owner with E.K. Leatherock of the Longview Dailey News in Longview, Tex., and owner of the Coleman (Texas) Democrat Voice from 1948 to 1950. He married Una Opal Keeter, a local schoolteacher on May 24, 1939. she began helping him at the newspaper and her Incidentally column is known throughout the area. The Bacons have two children, Charles, who is carrying on the family tradition as publisher of the Sayre Journal, Nancy who is a dietician at Lawton. Bill Bacon's approach to a good newspaper is to "Tell the good things about people and help them recognition for their accomplishments." Although interested in politics, he has never been a candidate for city council or the school board because he said, "It wouldn't be right for a newspaper publisher who tries to present the news in an unbiased manner to allow himself to be subject to any group." Bacon has made friends with people from all walks of life -- from the great to the small -- all have a deep bond of affection for the long-time newspaper publisher who has the manner of a Southern gentleman spiced with enough salt to make an interesting personality. Proclamation WHEREAS: W.J. "Bill" Bacon has served the people of the city of Sayre for the past 50 years; and WHEREAS: W.J. "Bill" Bacon has worked for and promoted the city of Sayre through both his newspaper and his individual endeavors for for the past 50 years; and WHEREAS: W.J. "Bill" Bacon has been instrumental in the designation of s. highway 66 as a four-lane interstate highway through WesternOklahoma, and helped to cause U.S. 283 and S.H. 152 to intersect at Sayre; and WHEREAS: W.J. "Bill" Bacon has been influential in obtaining additional housing for all income levels in Sayre; and WHEREAS: W.J. "Bill" Bacon was instrumental in providing for a municipal hospital for the City of Sayre and served on the hospital governing board for many years; and WHEREAS: W.J. "Bill" (sic) was instrumental in the establishment of Sayre Junior Colleger(sic) in 1936, and has been an avid supporter ever since; and WHEREAS: W.J. "Bill" Bacon has served his community through the Chamber of Commerce, the Sayre Rotary Club, the Beckham County Election Board and the Beckham County Draft Board; and, WHEREAS: W.J. "Bill" Bacon has strived for and endeavored to preserve patriotism and our precious heritage through the support of historical and patriotic projects in the community and the area; WHEREFORE: In appreciation of W.J. "Bill" Bacon on behalf of the City of Sayre and the surrounding area, I hereby proclaim Thursday, June 21, 1979, as "W.J. "Bill" Bacon Day in Sayre, Oklahoma. PROCLAIMED This 20th Day of June, 1979. -s- Pat Cowan Mayor of Sayre The Sayre Journal, Thursday, June 21, 1979 pg 1 Gov. George Nigh to speak at dinner SAYRE -- Governor George Nigh will return to Sayre tonight to be the featured speaker at a dinner honoring long-time Sayre Journal owner, W.J. "Bill" Bacon. Nigh first visited the city when he was Lt. Governor campaigning for the office of governor. He received a hearty welcome from area residents during his previous visit and is expected to be greeted warmly on his return visit. The Governor is a native of McAlester and was a high school history teacher when he was first elected to the State House of Representatives. He served eight years as Representative from Pittsburg County before he was elected Lt. Governor. During his tenure as Lt. Governor, he worked with four Governors and with every branch of state government. Nigh is in his 25th year of public service and is known for his "Nigh Good Guys Caravans" headed by Nigh and his wife Donna. these caravans traveled all over Oklahoma during the campaign. "No county is too far, no town is too small for the Good Guy Caravan," he said. Nigh will land shortly before 7 p.m. tonight at the Sayre Airport and be escorted to the dinner at the Sayre Elementary School Cafetorium by the Highway Patrol. Bill Bacon honored tonight, banquet planned at 7 p.m. SAYRE -- Publisher William J. "Bill" Bacon will be honored tonight for his contributions to Sayre and western Oklahoma in appreciation for more than 50 years as publisher and owner of the Sayre Journal. With Bacon at the helm, the Sayre Headlight-Journal has been a leader in every progressive endeavor for the betterment of his city of Sayre and western Oklahoma. Bacon is proud of the history and progress of the newspaper which will begin it's 82nd year on Aug. 22. The history of the Sayre Headlight Journal under Bacon's direction is a history of Sayre and its progress. It is a record of the days of the depression, "dust bowl," wartime, recession, crop failure, bumper crops and increased oil and gas production and prosperity. Through all these things, Bacon believed in the area and its people, encouraging them to keep trying. As a result of his efforts, three major highways traverse the area, the city has a fine hospital and excellent educational facilities which includes a junior college level institution and many area people have been encouraged to accomplish their best because of the recognition given them in Bacon's publication. Featured speaker for tonight's dinner will be Governor George Nigh with Senator Gilmer Capps and Representative Willie Rogers also on the program. Other dignitaries, relatives and friends will also be on hand to show their appreciation to Bill Bacon for all his contributions to the area. The Sayre Journal, Friday, June 22, 1979 pg 1 Community fills cafetorium for W.J. "Bill" Bacon By SHIRLEY WEST Of the Journal staff SAYRE -- Approximately 220 people packed the Elementary School Cafetorium last night to pay tribute to one of Sayre's most outstanding citizens, William J. "Bill" Bacon. Featured speaker Governor George Nigh pinned a "White Hat" emblem on Bacon's lapel and said, "You are synonymous with and typify what a white hat stands for -- if there is a "good guy" -- it is Bill Bacon!" It was evident from the crowd's standing ovation upon Bacon's arrival that the Governor expressed the sentiments of the attendance. Senator Gilmer Capps, D-Snyder, and Representative Wille Rogers, D-Mangum, presented Bacon with a joint citation from the Oklahoma State Senate and the State House of Representatives declaring June 21, 1979, as "Bill Bacon Day" in the state. Governor Nigh signed the citation and quipped, "this is the only thing I've got through the legislature." Nigh was introduced by Kelley who received some good-natured kidding from the Governor, "this here's the Gov." Kelley said. "I have had lots of introductions and this is one of them," Nigh said. He said if he had been properly introduced the master of ceremonies would have mentioned he was serving his third term as Governor of Oklahoma -- "of course, two of them were very short terms." Much of the Governor's remarks were lighthearted -- especially when he compared his landing last evening at "Delhi International" to the landing of Air Force One at Clinton-Sherman during President Carter's visit to the area earlier this year. In a more serious vein, he emphasized(sic) his relationship with Bill Bacon and said, "It is much more than political." "Bacon is a mover and a doer -- everywhere he goes, he hustles for his hometown and the people of the area." Nigh said. "We genuinely appreciate Bill Bacon and my being here is a genuine expression of that appreciation," he said. Master of ceremonies Carry Kelley introduced members of Bacon's family and asked all the newspaper editors present to stand and be recognized by their colleague. The festive mood of the evening continued as Nan Pucket, Miss Sayre for 1979 and the Most Talented Non-Finalist in the Miss Oklahoma Pageant, sang, "My corner of the Sky" and "Today." MODA executive director Alvin Hamm told of his years of friendship with Bacon, which partially resulted from their unusual last names. He expressed Bacon's character when he said, "Bill is the kind of person that says, "I must do something" instead of being like many of the rest of us saying, "Something must be done." The stage at the cafetorium was transformed to an early day newspaper office with props generously loaned by Mr. and Mrs. Donald Burch, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Spence, Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Cornels, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Vermillion, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Crabb and the VICI class. In honor of Bacon's 50 years as owner and publisher of the Sayre Daily Headlight-Journal, the programs were pinned in newspaper style with table decoration consisting of the Sayre Journal nameplate, red candles and a red and white floral arrangement for the head table. Following the banquet friends and well wishers lined up to greet Bacon and his family. "We appreciate everything that was done in planning the day," Bacon's son Chuck said. "Everything was perfect. Dad and all of us return the warm wishes and kindness extended us Thursday night." The Sayre Journal, Tuesday, June 26, 1979 pg 1 W.J. "Bill" Bacon dies, services slated William J. "Bill" Bacon, 75, of 1304 North Fourth Street died Monday morning in St. Anthony's Hospital in Oklahoma City following a short illness. Memorial services will be Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in the Sayre First United Methodist Church with Rev. Elbert Shumaker officiating. Burial will be in the Sayre-Doxey Cemetery under the direction of Rose Chapel Funeral Service. Born August 15, 1903 in Church Hill, Tenn., to Dr. and Mrs. Charles E. Bacon, he was the eldest of nine children. He was a 1920 graduate of Central High School in Knoxville, Tenn., and a journalism graduate of the University of Oklahoma. While in journalism school at OU he worked in the advertising department of the Oklahoma Daily when A.S. "Mike" Moroney was editor. He later worked for the Frederick Press, the Frederick Leader, the Altus Times-Democrat, the Woodward Daily Press and the Perry Journal. At one time he was co-owner of the Longview Daily News in Longview, Tex., and owner of the Coleman (Texas) Democrat Voice. His accomplishments include helping to establish major highways in the area, helping to develop the Sayre Memorial Hospital and the Sayre Junior College as well as serving as secretary as secretary of the Beckham County Election Board and, chairman of the County Draft Board. He also was a member of the board of directors of the Midwestern Oklahoma Development Authority at Burns Flat. Mr. Bacon was a past president of the Sayre Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce and actively worked to bring industry into the area. An active member of the Democratic Party, he has been area campaign manager for all Democratic governors with the exception of Johnston Murray and J. Howard Edmondson and was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1954 and Los Angeles in 1960. On Nov. 11, 1976, he was inducted into the Western Oklahoma Hall of Fame. He married Opal Una Keeter on May 24, 1939, and both have been actively involved in community endeavors(sic) for 40 years. He was a member of the United Methodist Church. On Thursday, June 21, he was the gust of honor at an appreciation dinner honoring him for his 50 years of service to the community as owner-publisher of the Sayre Headlight-Journal. Featured speaker at the dinner was Governor George Nigh who presented Bacon with a "white hat" emblem and Senator Gilmer Capps and Representative Willie Rogers who presented him with a proclamation from the State Legislature declaring the day as "Bill Bacon Day" in the state. Immediate Chamber of Commerce past president Larry Kelley handed Bacon a plaque from the Sayre Chamber of Commerce representing the appreciation of the community for his acheivements(sic) on their behalf. Mr. Bacon was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter and three brothers. Survivors are his wife of the home; a daughter, Nancy Jane Bacon of Lawton; a son, Charles of Sayre; five sisters, Mrs. Albert C. Herrington of Oklahoma City; Mrs. Lee Weiland, Mrs. Edna Grace Milne, Mrs. Thomas B. Hirshfield and Mrs. Weldon Owens, all of Dallas, Texas. Memorial contributions can be made to the Sayre Junior College scholarship fund or to cancer research. Many Sayre businesses and City Hall will be closed during the memorial service. Obituary and note below provided by N S Ferguson . I have attempted to cut-n-paste a captured OCR transcription of his obituary, deleting the extra text from other columns. This particular transcription, however, appears to be missing most, if not all, punctuation marks, so I have added some to the most obvious places. --N S Ferguson Sunday, July 1, 1979 in The Oklahoma Times from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, p. 4. FUNERAL HELD FOR SAYRE PUBLISHER Funeral services for William J. "Bill" Bacon were held Wednesday, June 27, at the Sayre First United Methodist Church. Bacon died Monday, June 25, at St. Anthony's Hospital, Oklahoma City. He was 75. Bacon had been publisher of the Sayre Journal for more than 50 years. Gov. George Nigh said, "The death of Bill Bacon comes as a severe loss for the people of western Oklahoma." Gov. Nigh appeared at a June 21 appreciation dinner for Bacon. The dinner was held at Sayre. In referring to the dinner, Nigh said, "More than 300 friends gathered in Sayre to pay tribute to Bill's 50 years of service to his community and state, not just as a newspaper publisher but as an active and involved citizen leader promoting economic development higher education and highway improvements." Born in Tennessee, Bacon was a journalism graduate of the University of Oklahoma. While in school at O.U., Bacon worked in the advertising department of the Oklahoma Daily. He later worked for the Frederick Press, Frederick Leader, Altus Times-Democrat, Woodward Daily Press and the Perry Journal. Bacon and W.K. Leatherock purchased the Sayre newspaper from J. Gladstone Emery in 1928. Bacon began publishing the newspaper on a daily basis in 1932. Bacon bought out Leatherock in 1939 and leased the newspaper to his son, Charles (Chuck), in 1973. Bacon helped establish Sayre Junior College and Sayre Memorial Hospital. He was a former president of Sayre Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base advisory board and was a member of the Midwestern Oklahoma Development Authority. An advocate for the Democratic Party in western Oklahoma, Bacon was a delegate to the Democratic National conventions in Chicago in 1954 and in Los Angeles in 1960. Bacon was inducted into the Western Oklahoma Historical Society Hall of Fame on Nov. 11, 1976. Survivors are his wife, Una of the home, a daughter, Nancy Jane Bacon, of Lawton, a son, Charles, of Sayre, and five sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter and three brothers. *Note: Being the first newspaper in western Oklahoma (if 1898 is correct in the story) depends on how western Oklahoma is defined. Ellis and Custer county had newspapers in 1893 and even Dewey County in 1895 all well before 1898. It would have been the first in Roger Mills County (no Beckham County until 1907).

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