German, former Burlington publisher, dies at 73
Glenn Ray German, former publisher of the Coffey County Republican in Burlington, died Monday night, Dec. 29, 2014, at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. He was 73.
He was born Oct. 20, 1941, on the family farm, three miles northwest of Little River, the son of Leslie E. and Neva G. (Buchanan) German. He attended Little River schools, graduating from high school in 1959. Later, he attended Hutchinson Junior College, Butler County Junior College and received a degree in business administration from Hamilton University in Evanston, Wyo.
While in El Dorado, he taught a night course in advertising at Butler County Junior College. During his high school years, he worked for the Monitor Journal in Little River and sold advertising for a multi-county farm publication, which covered Rice, McPherson and Reno counties. He also worked at the Coffeyville Journal and the Clinton (Okla.) Daily News.
He worked for the El Dorado Times for 13 years, starting at the lowest level in the ad department, and rising to business manager when he left. R.A. Clymer, one of the most respected editorial writers in Kansas, who trained with William Allen White, and Clymer’s son, David, were his bosses.
Glenn worked for Metro Associated Services in New York City, which was the largest server of artwork for newspapers, ad agencies, printers and others, for a time. His territory included nine states, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, Nebraska, Utah, Colorado, Missouri and Kansas. He said he loved that job, but driving over 100,000 miles a year and living in motels was a challenge.
He purchased The Daily Republican in Burlington and The Gridley Light newspapers in October 1973 from Bill Batdorf and Floyd Ecord. The paper was produced by letterpress (hot metal) then, and the next year, he converted it to offset, replacing all equipment. Later, he acquired the Waverly Gazette, The Coffey County Reporter at LeRoy, the Lebo Enterprise and the mailing list for the Hartford Times.
The Burlington paper became Coffey County Today and the weeklies were combined into one larger weekly called This Week. He also was a co-owner of The Eureka Herald for several years.
He semi-retired to his little farm north of Burlington, after selling the newspaper in 1998.
He was a perpetual life member of Burlington Masonic Lodge No. 66, and was Past Master and Past Secretary of the lodge, as well as Past District Deputy Grand Master.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie E. and Neva G. German, and a brother, Myron L. German. Survivors include several aunts, uncles and dozens of cousins, as well as his caregiver, Shelley Anna.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2, at Jones Funeral Home in Burlington. Masonic graveside services will be held 3 p.m. Friday at Bean Cemetery at Little River.
Memorial contributions may be made to New Strawn Community Christian Church and sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.