Senate Concurrent Resolution 549

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE CARTHAGINIAN NEWSPAPER (1872-2022) IN CARTHAGE, MISSISSIPPI, AND RECOGNIZING ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, we join the citizens of Carthage, Mississippi, in commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the founding of The Carthaginian Newspaper and recognizing the civic contributions of this leading corporate citizen in our state; and

WHEREAS, founded in 1872, The Carthaginian printed its first edition in March of that year with L.M. Garrett as Editor-Publisher. He continued in that role, turning what started as a weekly publication, with as few as four pages, into a thriving business and community leader. During his tenure, his daughter, Singleton Garrett, became Editor, the first woman editor of the newspaper and for Leake County, and among the first in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in 1908, the reins of the newspaper were turned over to Marshall McNeil (Big Mac) Keith, who led the business until 1948, establishing a Keith family dynasty with the newspaper that lasted some 105 years. Big Mack relinquished the editor-publisher post to George Huddleston Keith, and he served until 1994, when his son, John Huddleston Keith assumed the position. George Keith was an active leader in the community, steadying the helm through some of the most turbulent times in the state and nation. He also expanded the reach of the company, partnering with W.C. Shoemaker in buying The Star-Herald in Kosciusko, Mississippi, and turning it into one of the best weeklies in the south and one of the largest broadsheet printing operation in the Southeast, along with others, such as S. Gale Denley, Jack and Jean Coppenbarger, and Sid Salter in newspapers in Forest, Mendenhall and Pontotoc. George Keith served as President of the Mississippi Press Associations and as a board member; and

WHEREAS, after George Keith, Mildred Dearman handled the day-to-day leadership of the Carthage newspaper, until 1994, when John H. Keith assumed command. Mildred Dearman was the second woman to edit the Leake County newspaper and before her death she received local, state and national honors. Starting in 1960, her entire career was spent with the The Carthaginian, working in every aspect of the newspaper, and at the same time contributing in all ways to her community. She was President of the Mississippi Press Women (MPW) and served on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Press Association (MPA) for two terms, and as Vice President. Mildred won every award offered in MPW competition and numerous MPA honors and more than 100 State and National Journalism Awards and for years headed up the MPA Better Newspaper Contests. She was chosen Mississippi Medalist at the University of Southern Mississippi in 1973 and in 1974 was named the Mississippi Press Women's Woman of Achievement. Mildred served two terms, 1964-1965 and 1981-1982, as President of the Leake County Chamber of Commerce and was named Leake County Woman of the Year in 1982. She led efforts to establish an Avenue of American Flags in 1964, then helped revive the display in the 1990s. Her efforts on behalf of the Carthage Library were key in funding expansions and improvements. In April, 2005, Dearman was honored by the Old Robinson Road Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution with the Woman in American History Award, the only recipient in Mississippi that year. She was the first nominee named by the Old Robinson Road Chapter. A member of Rotary, she was a former member and President of the Carthage PTA and the 20th Century Club. Mildred was a member of Carthage United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, John Keith positioned The Carthaginian for increasing reliance upon and demand for electronic technology. He set the newspaper up with its first website, its first email and social media capabilities, and at one point The Carthaginian was likely the only newspaper with capabilities to produce its own page negatives, the exceptions being those newspapers which operated their own presses. He was an active member of the Rotary Club, serving on the board and as President. When downtown Carthage began pushing beautification of the square, he led with a complete face lift for the building front at The Carthaginian, and he was instrumental in efforts to expand McMillan Park on Highway 16E. He was President of the Leake Academy PTO, plus served on the boards for Leake Academy, the Chamber and for the Mississippi Press Association and Mississippi Press Service; and

WHEREAS, in 1994, John Keith sold the newspaper to long-time employee and Editor Waid Prather, a Jackson native whose career had carried him to Kosciusko, Brandon, Canton, Columbia, Amory and Winona in Mississippi, plus two years as Editor and Publisher of the Marlin Democrat in Marlin, Texas; and

WHEREAS, throughout its career, The Carthaginian has won recognition, receiving honors in virtually every category of statewide competition in the Mississippi Press Association. Among those honors are numerous general Excellence Awards, plus three Freedom of Information Awards, including two won in competition against all other newspapers in Mississippi, weekly and daily. In May of 2005, Major General Bill Lutz, Assistant Major General, Commander Mississippi Air National Guard, issued a commendation for The Carthaginian for its support of the guard. The commendation recognized an effort to cover guard activities, including implanting Prather with the guard members as they trained in the Mojave Desert prior to deployment to the Middle East in the wake of 9-11, the only Mississippi newspaper to pursue that assignment. A few years later, the newspaper repeated the feat, sending Prather to Fort Hood in Texas, as they prepared for another deployment in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, during Waid Prather's time at the helm, the newspaper led the charge in seeking reopening of the Walnut Grove Correctional Facility, after the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) canceled a private operator's contract, closing the prison. His criticism of the MDOC and push for information that led to the decision to close the facility were the centerpiece of the paper's third Freedom of Information Award. Prather has served as Director of the Carthage Rotary Club, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, and is a Deacon at Trinity Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, established in 1834, the City of Carthage has been a leading, progressive agricultural community in Central Mississippi, which throughout its history has been supported by the leadership of its most public-spirited corporate citizen, The Carthaginian, whose civic energy is a wonderful example of excellent journalism in the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the founding of The Carthaginian Newspaper (1872-2022) in Carthage, Mississippi, and recognize its contributions to the community and to the State of Mississippi, and extend our best wishes to the staff of this leading newspaper on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Waid Prather and the staff of The Carthaginian, forwarded to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Carthage and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.