Roy Whittenburg
Encyclopedia
Roy Robert Whittenburg, Sr. (January 11, 1913 – December 29, 1980), was a landowner, oil
man, rancher, banker, and newspaper publisher from Amarillo
, Texas
, who was the Republican
nominee in 1958 for the U.S. Senate against the Democratic
incumbent
, Ralph W. Yarborough.
Yarborough handily won the match, 587,030 (74.6 percent) to Whittenburg's 185,926 (23.6 percent) at a time before the Republican Party of Texas
became competitive at the congressional level. Whittenburg, as a Senate candidate, advocated a constitutional amendment to provide for the direct election of justices of the United States Supreme Court in accordance with the procedure employed for choosing members of the Texas Supreme Court
; he believed the voters would choose conservative justices.
In 1962, Whittenburg lost the Republican gubernatorial primary to Jack M. Cox
, then an oilfield equipment executive from Houston
, who was in turn defeated in the general election
by the then Democrat John B. Connally, Jr. Whittenburg said that he wanted to be governor to check the "dictatorial powers" of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
.
of Plemons
in Hutchinson County
in the Texas Panhandle
. On February 14, 1937, he married the former Grace Evelyn McKee (1919–2005), a native of eastern New Mexico
and the daughter of Louis Palma McKee and the former Jewel Porter. The couple had seven children: Grace Evelyn Coltrin (born 1939), Jewel Anne Johnston (born 1942), George Allen Whittenburg (born 1944), Louis Palma McKee "Mack" Whittenburg (born 1946), John Burkhart "Burk" Whittenburg (born 1948), Mary Lois Rowley (born 1955), and Roy Whittenburg, Jr. (born 1958).
was discovered on Whittenburg land in the 1920s. This gave the family great wealth and the opportunity to invest in other businesses. From 1946–1956, Whittenburg owned the Borger News Herald, which had been founded in 1926 in Borger
, the largest city in Hutchinson County. Whittenburg sold the newspaper to his brother-in-law, W. Glynn Morris, who then operated it until retiring in 1977. Morris was president of the Texas Press Association from 1968–1969.
Whittenburg's brother, Samuel Benjamin Whittenburg (1914–1992), was the publisher of the Amarillo Globe-Times, while Roy held the title of chairman of the board. By 1951, the Whittenburgs' Amarillo Times began to eclipse the older Globe-News published by Gene Howe. The Whittenburgs compelled Howe to sell them the Globe-News, and they renamed the newspaper the Globe-Times. They also bought Howe's television station and two radio outlets in Amarillo, and his two newspapers in Lubbock
, including the surviving Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
. Howe thereafter shot himself in the head in despair, and some in Amarillo accused the Whittenburgs of unfairly undercutting their business rival. Whittenburg was also known for demanding one-fourth of the share of profits if oil was found on leased family land, instead of the customary one-eighth royalty
share.
in Randall County, where Roy Whittenburg resided at the time of his death at the age of sixty-seven. He and his wife were Presbyterians.
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
man, rancher, banker, and newspaper publisher from Amarillo
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, who was the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee in 1958 for the U.S. Senate against the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
, Ralph W. Yarborough.
Yarborough handily won the match, 587,030 (74.6 percent) to Whittenburg's 185,926 (23.6 percent) at a time before the Republican Party of Texas
Republican Party of Texas
The Republican Party of Texas is one of the two major political parties in the U.S. State of Texas. It is affiliated with the United States Republican Party. The State Chairman is Steve Munisteri, a retired attorney and businessman from Houston, and the Vice-Chair is Melinda Fredricks of Conroe....
became competitive at the congressional level. Whittenburg, as a Senate candidate, advocated a constitutional amendment to provide for the direct election of justices of the United States Supreme Court in accordance with the procedure employed for choosing members of the Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
; he believed the voters would choose conservative justices.
In 1962, Whittenburg lost the Republican gubernatorial primary to Jack M. Cox
Jack Cox (Texas)
Jack M. Cox was an oil equipment executive from Houston and the 1962 Republican gubernatorial nominee in the state of Texas.-Early years:...
, then an oilfield equipment executive from Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, who was in turn defeated in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
by the then Democrat John B. Connally, Jr. Whittenburg said that he wanted to be governor to check the "dictatorial powers" of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
.
Background
Whittenburg was born in the ghost townGhost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
of Plemons
Plemons, Texas
Plemons is a ghost town in Hutchinson County, in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located 10 miles southeast of Stinnett, and northwest of Borger, on Plemons Road, just north of the juncture of County Road R.-Establishment:...
in Hutchinson County
Hutchinson County, Texas
Hutchinson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas in the northern portion of the Texas Panhandle. In 2000, its population was 23,857. Its seat is Stinnett . Hutchinson County is named for Andrew Hutchinson, an early Texas attorney....
in the Texas Panhandle
Texas Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east...
. On February 14, 1937, he married the former Grace Evelyn McKee (1919–2005), a native of eastern New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and the daughter of Louis Palma McKee and the former Jewel Porter. The couple had seven children: Grace Evelyn Coltrin (born 1939), Jewel Anne Johnston (born 1942), George Allen Whittenburg (born 1944), Louis Palma McKee "Mack" Whittenburg (born 1946), John Burkhart "Burk" Whittenburg (born 1948), Mary Lois Rowley (born 1955), and Roy Whittenburg, Jr. (born 1958).
Publishing
OilOil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
was discovered on Whittenburg land in the 1920s. This gave the family great wealth and the opportunity to invest in other businesses. From 1946–1956, Whittenburg owned the Borger News Herald, which had been founded in 1926 in Borger
Borger, Texas
Borger is the largest city in Hutchinson County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,302 at the 2000 census. Borger is named for businessman Asa Philip "Ace" Borger, who also established the Hutchinson County seat of Stinnett and several other small towns in Texas and Oklahoma.- History...
, the largest city in Hutchinson County. Whittenburg sold the newspaper to his brother-in-law, W. Glynn Morris, who then operated it until retiring in 1977. Morris was president of the Texas Press Association from 1968–1969.
Whittenburg's brother, Samuel Benjamin Whittenburg (1914–1992), was the publisher of the Amarillo Globe-Times, while Roy held the title of chairman of the board. By 1951, the Whittenburgs' Amarillo Times began to eclipse the older Globe-News published by Gene Howe. The Whittenburgs compelled Howe to sell them the Globe-News, and they renamed the newspaper the Globe-Times. They also bought Howe's television station and two radio outlets in Amarillo, and his two newspapers in Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, including the surviving Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal is a newspaper based in Lubbock, Texas, U.S. It is owned by the Morris Communications Company.-History:The Lubbock Avalanche was founded in 1900 by John James Dillard and Thad Tubbs. According to Dillard, the name "Avalanche" was chosen due to his desire that the...
. Howe thereafter shot himself in the head in despair, and some in Amarillo accused the Whittenburgs of unfairly undercutting their business rival. Whittenburg was also known for demanding one-fourth of the share of profits if oil was found on leased family land, instead of the customary one-eighth royalty
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
share.
Death
The Whittenburgs are interred at Dreamland Cemetery in CanyonCanyon, Texas
Canyon is a city in Randall County, Texas, United States. The population was 12,875 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randall County. It is the home of West Texas A&M University and Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is some twelve miles east of Canyon...
in Randall County, where Roy Whittenburg resided at the time of his death at the age of sixty-seven. He and his wife were Presbyterians.