Oscar S. Stauffer | |
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| Born | Oscar Stanley Stauffer (1886-11-26)November 26, 1886 Hope, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | February 24, 1982(1982-02-24) (aged 95) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. |
Oscar Stanley Stauffer (November 26, 1886 – February 24, 1982) was the founder of the media companyStauffer Communications and is often credited with starting the bandwagon for Kansas GovernorAlf Landon getting theRepublican 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.[2][3]
In 1886, Stauffer was born inHope, Kansas. After graduating fromEmporia High School (Emporia, Kansas) in 1906, Stauffer went to work forWilliam Allen White at theEmporia Gazette for $6/week. White fired him in 1908 to force him to attend the journalism school at theUniversity of Kansas.[4] After graduating from college, he worked five years atThe Kansas City Star.
In 1915, he bought his first newspaper, thePeabody Gazette-Herald inPeabody, Kansas, and was editor until 1922.[5] He eventually bought five other newspapers, and merged them intoStauffer Publications in 1930.
In 1935, Stauffer encounteredKansas City Star editorRoy 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 andPittsburg, Kansas publisher Fred Brinkerhoff chipped in $500 each to open an "Alf Landon For President" campaign headquarters in theMuehlebach Hotel inKansas City, Missouri. Rather than printing anystationery, the publishers used the letterhead ofArkansas City Daily Traveler inArkansas City, Kansas.[6]
In 1975, theKansas 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.
In 1982, Oscar died at the age of 95, and was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery inTopeka, Kansas.
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