[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S1550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     GOODBYE TO THE HUNTSVILLE NEWS

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, Huntsville, AL's morning newspaper, the 
Huntsville News, will publish its last edition on Friday, March 15, 
1996. The News was founded 32 years ago by local business people as a 
weekly, but became a daily paper within only a few months. In 1968, it 
was sold by the owners to Advance Publications, which also owns 
Huntsville's afternoon paper, the Huntsville Times.
  The Huntsville News published its first edition on January 8, 1964. 
It introduced itself to its Rocket City readers with the headline: 
``New Communications Capsule Blasts Off.'' The original owners were 
James Cleary, a Huntsville attorney; John Higdon, the former manager of 
a local television station; and Thomas A. Barr, an electrical engineer. 
The paper was printed on its own press, an offset press which was one 
of the most modern in the business. Less than 2 months after it began 
publishing, it went to a twice-weekly schedule, and in August 1964, it 
became a 6-day daily, publishing every day except Sunday.
  Stoney Jackson was the first editor of the News. At one time, he was 
a contestant on ``The $64,000 Question'' television quiz show, and 
became famous when he revealed cheating on the famous game show. Other 
editors were Sid Thomas, Hollice Smith, Dave Langford, Tom Lankford, 
and Lee Woodward, who has been editor since 1977. Ironically, Woodward, 
who first came to work for the paper in 1972, had already planned his 
retirement for this March before the announcement about the News.
  Before he joined the News, Woodward, a native of Arab, AL, had worked 
for the Huntsville Times, the News Courier, Alabama Courier, and 
Limestone Democrat, all three newspapers published in Athens, where he 
grew up. He had also worked at the Gadsden Times. He is now serving as 
president of the Alabama Press Association and has been on the Alabama 
Newspaper Advertising Service Board of Directors. Altogether, he has 
enjoyed 42 years in the newspaper business.
  I want to congratulate everyone who has been involved with the 
publication of the Huntsville News over the last 32 years, particularly 
the current editor, Lee Woodward, who has performed superbly in an 
exceedingly difficult position. The newspaper has been an authoritative 
source of information and insight into the issues and news of the day, 
and its loss is an extremely sad one for the Huntsville area. Its sharp 
writing, lucid clarity, and professional objectivity each morning will 
be sorely missed by its many readers. It has performed its mission well 
and leaves a tremendous journalistic legacy to the citizens of this 
vibrant area.

                          ____________________