A headline and article on the front page of the Thursday, July 20, 1972, Great Bend Tribune announced the paper had been sold to Savannah, Ga.-based Morris Multimedia. This week, the Tribune celebrated the 50th anniversary of this purchase.

Morris Multimedia President Charles Morris and Vice President Jeff Samuels made the trip to Great Bend for a building-wide reception. 

“Having a local newspaper in a community is so important,” Morris said to the staff. “Local news is also an important part of our nation as a whole.”

He praised the paper’s team for its efforts to bring local news to the readers. “It is appreciated,” he said.

“There are a lot of challenges facing newspapers,” Morris said. But, the Tribune is and always has been good example.

“It is Charles’ belief in home town community newspapers that has kept us open all these years,” said Tribune Publisher Judy Duryee. “For this we are thankful.”

Judge Channel P. Townsley, a self-taught lawyer, started what was then the Inland Tribune on Aug. 12, 1876. It remained in the Townsley family until 1966 when they sold it to the Kansas City Star. 

Then in 1972, Morris Multi-Media bought the Tribune.

Founded in 1970 in Savannah by Morris, Morris Multimedia today owns and operates 60 publications, network affiliate television stations, and other media related ventures in nine states and the Caribbean. The Tribune was the first newspaper acquisition in Kansas.

In publication for 146 years, the Tribune is the oldest, continually operating business in Barton County.