Oscar S. Stauffer

Oscar Stanley Stauffer (November 26, 1886 – February 24, 1982) was founder of the media company Stauffer Communications and is often credited with starting the bandwagon for Kansas Governor Alf Landon getting the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 1936.^[1]

At the time of his death, Stauffer owned 20 newspapers, two television stations, nine radio stations and several affiliated operations in 11 states.

Stauffer was born in Hope, Kansas. After graduating Abilene High School (Abilene, Kansas) in 1906, Stauffer went to work for William Allen White at the Emporia Gazette for $6/week. White fired him in 1908 to force him to attend the journalism school at the University of Kansas.^[2]

After graduating Kansas he worked five years at The Kansas City Star.

In 1915 he bought his first newspaper with the Peabody Gazette in Peabody, Kansas, and was editor until 1922.^[3]

In 1930 he formed Stauffer Publications from six newspapers he owned.

In 1935 Stauffer encountered Kansas City Star editor Roy Roberts and is reported to have asked him, "Look here Roy, when are going to do something about getting Alf nominated?" Shortly thereafter, Roberts, Stauffer, Kansas City Star reporter Laci Haynes and Pittsburg, Kansas publisher Fred Brinkerhoff chipped in $500 each to open an "Alf Landon For President" campaign headquarters in the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. Rather than printing any stationery, the publishers used the letterhead of Arkansas City Daily Traveler in Arkansas City, Kansas.^[4]

In 1975, the Kansas State High School Activities Association began the Oscar Stauffer Award, which each year honors a sports broadcaster and newspaper reporter for their outstanding coverage of high school athletics in the state.

References

1. ^ Oscar S. Stauffer Dies at 95; Founder of Newspaper Chain - New York Times - February 25, 1982
2. ^ http://www.kspress.com/view_printer.asp?ID=162
3. ^ Peabody - The First 100 Years; Peabody Gazette-Herald; June 1971
4. ^ Boss-busters and Sin Hounds: Kansas City and Its Star by Hary Haskell - University of Missouri Press; 1 edition (October 5, 2007) ISBN 0826217699

External links

Persondata
Name	Stauffer, Oscar
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	November 26, 1886
Place of birth
Date of death	February 24, 1982
Place of death