W. Y. MORGAN

from History of Kansas Newspapers (1916)

WILLIAM Y. MORGAN, editor of the Hutchinson News, director of the State Exchange Bank, and one of the leading newspaper men of Kansas, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, April 6, 1866, a son of William A. and Minnie (Yoast) Morgan. He received his early education in the public schools of Cottonwood Falls, as he was a small child when his parents located in their western home. He entered the State University at Lawrence, where he took special courses that would prepare him for journalism, the profession he had chosen for his life work. While still a boy he had learned to set type in his father's office, and the practical knowledge thus gained gave him a better idea of the instruction he desired at college. He graduated with the class of 1885, and immediately began to do local work on a paper in Lawrence; then purchased a newspaper which he edited and published at Strong City for four years, but sold it to purchase the Emporia Daily Gazette. He built up this paper, made it a first-class publication, and continued as its editor until 1895, when he sold out to William Allen White and removed to Hutchinson. There he organized the News company, of which he is president and the principal stockholder, and bought the News, which now has the largest circulation of any paper in central Kansas. Mr. Morgan is a great worker and a capable manager. Few cities the size of Hutchinson can boast of a paper containing as much general news as the one of which he has charge. He has always been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and was only twenty when made secretary of the Douglas county convention, and in whatever community he has lived he has been honored with the position of secretary or chairman of the Republican central committee. In 1899 he was elected state printer by the legislature, and served in that capacity until 1903, when he was elected to represent Reno county in the lower house of the legislature, serving until 1910, and during two terms was chairman of the committee on railroads. He is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta college fraternity, and has served as one of the board of regents of the State University. He is an active member of the Sons of Veterans, and served as state commander in 1894. Fraternally he is associated with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Modern Woodmen of America, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

On November 20, 1891, Mr. Morgan married Colie, a daughter of Wit Adair, of Strong City. Mr. Morgan is well known in political, legislative and business circles of the state, and has gained a place in the front rank of the newspaper fraternity, where his ability as a writer is fully recognized by the profession. While abroad some time ago Mr. Morgan wrote for the News a series of letters, which have since been published in book form under the name of "A Journal of a Jayhawker" and "A Jay-hawker in Europe." A born leader, it is but natural that Mr. Morgan has taken the lead in movements for good in his city, county and state, and he stands among the representative men of central Kansas.

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