[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 203 (Wednesday, December 13, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    RECOGNIZING THE BAYTOWN SUN ON ITS DESIGNATION AS A TEXAS STATE 
                           HISTORICAL MARKER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 13, 2017

  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Baytown Sun for 
its designation as an official Texas State Historical Marker.
   The Baytown Sun can trace its roots to the weekly newspaper The 
Goose Creek Gasser, established by Frank Boyer in 1919, two months 
before construction began on the Humble Oil & Refining Company's 
Baytown Refinery. The Gasser was created to serve the rapidly growing 
tri-cities of Goose Creek, Pelly, and Baytown, which evolved from oil 
boom towns to a permeant community. In 1924, new ownership the paper's 
name to the semi-weekly tribune, and again in 1929 to the daily 
tribune, when it's circulation was around 4,500.
   The financial strain of the great depression led the owners of Goose 
Creek's Tribune, The Pelly Telegram, and Baytown's Tri-Cities News-
Herald to merge into a single paper, the Tri-Cities Sun, operating out 
of the Tribune's building. First published on July 19, 1931, it was 
renamed The Daily Sun two years later.
   Goose Creek, Pelly and Baytown consolidated in 1948, and the paper, 
renamed The Baytown Sun, became the sole daily newspaper in the old 
tri-cities area. In 1949, the facility was greatly expanded, including 
a new press and, for the first time an air conditioned work space. That 
year, The Sun surpassed a circulation of 8,000 and employed forty 
individuals. In 1965 the sun moved to its current location. The first 
papers printed at the new location went out to more than 12,700 
subscribers.
   Longtime Publishers and editors of the Sun included William 
Pendergraft, Robert Matherne, Fred Hartman, and Preston Pendergrass. 
Janie Gray has served as Publisher since 2010.
   Since 1919, The Baytown Sun and its predecessors have primarily 
focused on the area's local news and history, while providing readers 
with matters of state, national and international importance. Today, 
The Baytown Sun covers Southeast Harris County, Chambers County, and 
Southeast Liberty County.
   Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to recognize The Baytown Sun on 
its designation as a Texas State Historical Marker.

                          ____________________