Lloyd Craig: 56 years at the Winfield Courier

By DAVE SEATON, Winfield Publishing Chairman

Lloyd E. Craig, 82, publisher of the Winfield Daily Courier, died Wednesday, March 11, 2015.

Services will be 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Swisher-Taylor Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.   

Visitation will be Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m.

Memorials are to Winfield Main Street through Legacy, Winfield Lions Club sight project, the Cowley County Humane Society or to the donor’s choice.

Craig was well known on the streets of downtown Winfield, wearing the narrow-brimmed Fedora with which he first came to work, heading for stores or offices to call on advertising customers.

He became publisher of the paper in 2009 after working as circulation manager, ad salesman, advertising manager and general manager. Craig worked for the Winfield Publishing Company for 56 years.

He loved selling advertising face-to-face with customers and did it whenever he could. "He was like clockwork," said Rick Snider of Merle Snider Motors. "He was great responding to whatever we needed."

In 2014, Craig was one of three people named as Exemplary Older Worker by the Kansas Department of Commerce. The Kansas Press Association was about to honor him with the "Gaston Outstanding Mentor Award" at its upcoming convention in April.

"You could not ask for a more dedicated and effective employee and manager than Lloyd Craig," Winfield Publishing President David A. Seaton said. "More importantly, Lloyd was an exceptional human being who lived his life with integrity, character and humble service to others. He has been a gentle, steadfast mentor for me the past 10 years, and right now I can't imagine this company, and this community, without him."

Employees who worked with Craig remember him as a strong, gentle teacher.

"His diplomacy as instructor was remarkable," said Marsha Wesseler, Courier advertising director, whom Craig hired in 1974.

"He was a real encourager," said reporter Tracy Wise.

"Lloyd truly believed that youngsters were the hope of the future," said reporter intern Avery Osen.

Craig was known at the Courier for taking responsibility for whatever job needed to be done. "He had his finger in everything in the newspaper," said former circulation manager and ad salesman Bill Gillig.

"I think he was good at analyzing problems and doing something about them," said former managing editor William A. Taylor, Jr.

Craig's "get-it-done" attitude carried over into the community. He was president of the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce in 1971 when it was first accredited, and he worked behind the scenes on the creation of the Winfield Industrial Park. A long-time member of the Lions Club, Craig served as its president in 1982 and had recently returned for regular meetings.

Craig "actively supported all the ideals that Lions Club stands for," said Cathy Royston, club president. Royston, who is director of Winfield Main Street, also praised Craig for his "very strong" support of Main Street.

Craig graduated from Winfield High School in 1951 and married his high school sweetheart from that class, Shirley M. Froemming. Craig graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in industrial arts. After serving in the U.S. Air Force and achieving the rank of captain, he and his wife returned to Winfield where he was hired by former publisher W.W. Keith to work at the Courier.

The Craigs had three daughters, Peggy and twins Carol and Karen.

Always a positive person, Lloyd Craig greeted every customer at the Courier with a smile and a "Hi there." He was famous among his colleagues for his "Lloydisms." Among them were "Have I got a deal for you!" and "Watch the pennies and nickels and the dollars will take care of themselves." A favorite was "Even a blind hog finds a stick now and then," according to several.

When he was not on the street selling ads, Craig could often be found in the Courier's employee break room drinking coffee. His friend Richard Shank, former external affairs officer for AT&T in this region, remembers "great stories and laughter over a cup of coffee" with Craig.

Losing Lloyd Craig is like losing a member of the family, Shank said.