Coursey, Pat 1998-06-25
Pat Coursey, publisher of County Progress Magazine, talks about his father’s career as a newspaperman and publisher, his own life in publishing, the history of Brownwood and its newspapers.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Pat Coursey
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: June 25, 1998
Location: Brownwood, Texas
Interviewer: David Marshall
Length: 40 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1:
b. March 15, 1940, Abilene, Texas,
Brownwood, Texas,
Father – b. in Rising Star, August 10, 1911,
Brownwood, Texas – 1929 – daily newspaper,
Abilene, Texas – West Texas Chamber of Commerce –magazine,
Brownwood, Texas – 1940 – weekly newspaper,
Brownwood Banner,
Ceased publication August, 1957- bought by Brownwood Bulletin,
Father bought it from Jim White – 1945,
Locations,
Commercial printing business,
Started publication 1876,
County organized – 1857,
Previous newspapers,
Dr. T.R. Hayden’s book – Brownwood history,
Section on newspapers,
Collections of Brownwood Banner,
Howard Payne College Library,
Pat Coursey Collection,
Brownwood Bulletin – late 1890’s or early 1900’s,
Competing with Brownwood Banner,
Same owner off and on,
Combined then separated,
Daily newspaper,
Editorial battles between newspapers,
Opposite sides on national politics,
Same side on other issues – Texas politics,
Brownwood Bulletin (again),
Take over of Brownwood Banner,
Charlie Woodson newspaper chain,
Craig Woodson,
Other papers in chain,
Clark Coursey – Pat’s father,
Early interest in newspapers,
Lone Scouts – published newsletter,
High school – Rising Star Record – writer,
Brownwood Bulletin – 1929 – reporter,
West Texas Chamber of Commerce – Abilene, Texas – 1938,
West Texas Today Magazine,
Mother,
Howard Payne College – 1938,
Work at Abilene Reporter News,
Clark Coursey (again),
Editor – Brownwood Banner – 1940,
Bought Brownwood Banner – 1945,
Wife work at Banner,
Publisher – 1945-1957,
Died 1968,
Pat Coursey remembrances of his dad,
County Progress Magazine – 1941,
County Progress Magazine,
Origins,
D.B. Sartain, (?) County Judge, Wichita County,
Service for County Judges & Commissioners Assoc.,
Sold,
Wendal Mayes, John Blake, (_?_) McDaniel, owners – early 1930’s,
Clark Coursey, business manager – 1941,
John Blake & Clark Coursey Co-owners – 1948,
Clark Coursey sole owner – Mid-1950’s – 1968,
Sam & Pat Coursey take over,
Sold March, 1996,
Format of magazine,
Clark Coursey (again),
Ran the Brownwood Banner & County Progress simultaneously at Coursey,
Brownwood Banner – begin work in summer after 4th grade,
County Judges & Commissioners Assoc. Conventions,
Clark Coursey (again),
Lung cancer – 1967,
Turned County Progress Magazine over to Pat Coursey,
Pat Coursey (again),
Dad’s encouragement to run County Progress Magazine,
Brownwood, Texas,
Population,
Camp Bowie – WWII,
Camp as boon to Brownwood community,
Dry town – alcohol purchased with doctor’s prescription,
Red light district,
Historical Marker research findings,
Lake Brownwood,
Citizens created,
Built as water reservoir,
Industrial area,
Brownwood, Texas (again),
Local industrial manufacturing,
Current population – 19,000,
Remnants of Camp Bowie,
Old photo collections of Brownwood
Range Dates: late 1800s-1996
Bulk Dates: 1940-1996
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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