[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 15 (Monday, February 5, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE ALABAMA PRESS ASSOCIATION ON ITS 125TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______


                           HON. TERRY EVERETT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 1, 1996

  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to bring to the attention 
of this body a historic and noteworthy anniversary. This year marks the 
125th year since the founding of the Alabama Press Association [APA], 
the oldest statewide trade association in Alabama and one of the oldest 
State newspaper associations in the Nation.
  In 1871, as Alabama continued to recover from the ravages of the 
Civil War, its newspaper editors and publishers, joined by community 
leaders, sought new ways to promote economic growth. This was the 
genesis of the Alabama Press Association which actually came into being 
with the first statewide meeting of newspaper executives on March 17, 
1871 at the Montgomery Advertiser.
  Since those early days, the APA has evolved from a social 
organization of editors and publishers to an association that has 
played an important role in developing the daily and weekly newspapers 
of Alabama and serving as a catalyst for the State's economic and 
cultural development.
  The APA worked on behalf of the citizenry of Alabama by advocating 
stronger public access to government records and meetings. It has 
pushed for the State's first statewide taxes to support public 
education and it spearheaded a successful effort to launch a statewide 
chamber of commerce.
  The APA played a role through many of its leaders in guiding the 
State through some of the important and cultural changes of the last 
half of the 20th century. Its officers have included some of the 
leading newspaper men and women in America, and its member newspapers 
have won the Nation's highest awards for journalistic excellence.
  Additionally, before coming to the Congress it was my pleasure to 
serve as president of the APA in 1991. Alabama and the Nation can be 
justly proud of the contributions and leadership of the Alabama Press 
Association as it continues toward another 125 years of public service.

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