Services for Past President Ken Reid

KENNETH OWEN REID was born Aug. 26, 1926, in Weatherford, and passed away on Dec. 9 in Weatherford at the age of 98.

Funeral services will under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Federated Church of Weatherford. A family burial will precede the service. 

Memorials may be made to the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation, 3601 North Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

He was the first child born to John Wesley Reid and Helen Smith Reid and raised on the farm his family homesteaded located two miles north of Altus.

Ken attended Altus schools, along with three brothers and two sisters, until his senior year in high school.

He and a friend decided to join the WWII war effort where he served in Hawaii and was on his way to the Philippines when the war ended.

While away, he wrote letters to his mother, who said he should somehow use his gift for writing. He returned to Altus, then Norman where he entered the University of Oklahoma on the GI Bill.

At OU, Ken found his place in journalism and carried it through the rest of his life.

In addition, he also found the girl he wanted to marry, Phyllis Ruth Colpitt of Collinsville, when friends introduced them at a movie theater.

Ken and Phyllis were married in 1948 and a year later their first child Terry was born.

After graduation, Ken and his family moved to Claremore, for his first job, working at the Claremore Progress newspaper. In 1951 another daughter, Ruth Anne, was born.

After four years in Claremore, Ken and his partner Ed Burchfield purchased the Pauls Valley Democrat newspaper and the family made Pauls Valley their home for the next 19 years.

The family grew in Pauls Valley with sons David born in 1955 and Phillip in 1959.

In addition to both Ken and Phyllis working hard to make the newspaper a success, they were also heavily involved in community projects as well as the First Presbyterian Church, Chamber of Commerce, Girls Scouts, school PTA and P.E.O.

During their years in Pauls Valley, Ken and his partner Ed also purchased the Frederick Leader newspaper as well as the Wewoka Times.

In 1968, the three papers were sold to a media group and Ken purchased the Weatherford News in 1972 from his father’s old school friend, Jimmie Craddock.

He and Phyllis owned and operated the newspaper for 26 years, with his sons engaged in the business with him for 12 of those years. Ken and Phyllis quickly converted the newspaper from a weekly into a daily newspaper and from letter press to offset printing.

They also were very instrumental in the advancement of community journalism by serving on various boards of the Oklahoma Press Association. Reid has been recognized with honors for his newspaper achievements including the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Press Association president, University of Oklahoma outstanding Alumni Journalism Hall of Fame.

Upon retirement Ken and Phyllis enjoyed flying their plane and spent time at their cabin in Arkansas until Phyllis passed in 2015. Ken married Billie Joe Johnston and made their home in both Weatherford and Oklahoma City.

He is survived by his wife Billie Joe Reid, one brother Gary Reid, daughter Terry Magill and husband Bruce, son David Reid and wife Myra, son Phillip Reid and wife Jeanne Ann, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Provided by Weatherford Daily News