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TO HONOR THE GREER CITIZEN AND ITS HUNDRED YEAR LEGACY OF PROVIDING NEWS AND INFORMATION TO GREER AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
Whereas, The Greer Citizen was founded on May 10, 1918, and from the beginning, it was a truly family-oriented business. Publisher P.W. Smith purchased the business in 1920, and his sons, Bill and Charles P., worked in the print shop. P.W. Smith served as a reporter, editor, and manager of the business, while his wife wrote on social matters. In 1936, the Smiths sold the paper to Tup Lucas, who published the paper until June 1, 1942, later selling it to Edd A. Burch; and
Whereas, a native of Eastman, Georgia, Mr. Burch began his career as associate editor of the Bartow Herald in Cartersville, Georgia, from 1931 through 1936 and editor of the Dalton Citizen in Dalton, Georgia, from 1937 through 1942. When Mr. Burch purchased The Greer Citizen, it maintained a circulation of only fourteen hundred, but by 1976, under Mr. Burch's management, the circulation grew to eight thousand five hundred, and by the 1990s, it reached more than ten thousand people. He continued to serve as editor and publisher for forty-three years until he died on August 7, 1985. Remaining steadfast in the family-oriented values the paper was founded upon, Mr. Burch's sons, Leland and Walter, succeeded their father in his work; and
Whereas, Leland joined the newspaper staff as new editor after graduating from Wofford College in 1961, and Walter became advertising manager after graduating from Presbyterian College and serving two years of active duty in the U.S. Army. Walter later became the paper's general manager; and
Whereas, on September 30, 2006, Buchheit News Management, a Spartanburg family-based company, officially acquired The Greer Citizen, maintaining family ownership of the property. Don Wilder was named publisher. In January 2013, Wilder retired and Steve Blackwell was named publisher; and
Whereas, from its current location on Trade Street, The Greer Citizen continues to serve the Greer community, in addition to Taylors, Lyman, Wellford, and Duncan. The weekly paper maintains a long, loyal history in the Upstate, reporting on locally focused news, sporting events, and local features spotlighting individuals and organizations in the community, as well as religion features; and
Whereas, Buchheit New Management traces its roots back to January 1, 1948, when newspaper publisher Phil Buchheit of Spartanburg first leased and operated the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Phil Buchheit's newspaper acquisition history began with the purchase of the Goldsboro News-Argus, a daily in Goldsboro, North Carolina, in 1953, and continued to include the acquisition of a radio station, photographic studio, advertising agency, and a furniture store; and
Whereas, the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina are grateful for The Greer Citizen's hundred-year commitment to providing pertinent news and information to the people of Greer and its surrounding communities. Furthermore, the members hope The Greer Citizen continues to flourish for years to come.
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the House of Representatives of South Carolina, by this resolution honor The Greer Citizen and its hundred year legacy of providing news and information to Greer and surrounding communities.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to The Greer Citizen.
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