Eblen, Jeannie Kygar

Jeannie Kygar Eblen was a boundlessly curious, multi-faceted writer and editor with an eloquent allegiance for quality journalism in small communities. Shortly after her death in 2021 at age 77, Jeannie Eblen was lauded by colleagues as a talented journalist who won national awards for her work but never lost her deep connection to her rural roots.

“She was our champion and our friend,” said Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association. “We often talked as we shared a common history in southeast Kansas and a deep love for all Kansas news publications. One cannot quantify Jeannie's contributions to our industry and our association.”

Her vitality became legendary among hundreds of journalism students and colleagues of Tom Eblen, her husband of 51 years.  Known as the “newsroom mom” for University Daily Kansan student journalists, Jeannie organized (and did much of the cooking) for barbecue suppers at their Lawrence home every semester.  After Tom retired from his KU professorship in 2001 to become a consultant for the Kansas Press Association, Jeannie accompanied him on numerous trips to newspapers throughout the state. 

“She always impressed me with how much she knew about Kansas,” said Ann Brill, dean of the KU’s William Allen White School of Journalism. “When she met students, she would ask them where they were from. If they replied that she likely didn’t know about their small town, she would press them for details. The students’ faces would light up when she not only knew the town but shared something about it. And if the town happened to host a rodeo, well, the conversation went on for a long time!”

Born in Atchison in 1944, Jeannie grew up on her family’s farm in Hewins, Kan. She was a Kansas delegate to the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C., concluding 11 years of Kansas 4-H membership. During that 1963 conference, she was selected to represent 2.5 million 4-H youth at the dedication of the statue of “4-H Girl” in Danforth’s Courtyard in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

More success followed at Oklahoma State University, where she was co-editor of the campus O’Collegian newspaper and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She graduated in 1966 with a dual-bachelor’s degree in journalism and home economics. She worked as a features reporter for the Star from 1966 to 1976, earning numerous accolades, including the national Dorothy Dawe Award for home furnishings writing in 1972. She was the Kansas City field editor for Better Homes & Gardens magazine from 1976 to 1980.

Jeannie married fellow Star journalist Tom Eblen in 1966. The Eblens had a daughter (Courtney) and son (Matt), and moved in 1980 to Fort Scott, Kan., where Tom was general manager of the Fort Scott Tribune. In Fort Scott, Jeannie Eblen immersed herself in freelance writing and community engagement. She was public information officer for Fort Scott Community College’s rodeo team, was active with Fort Scott’s Historic Preservation Association and was an executive secretary for a CPA firm in Fort Scott.

The Eblens moved to Lawrence in 1990, where Tom was editorial professor and general manager of KU’s University Daily Kansan. Jeannie worked as a copy editor for the Kansas City Star, the Lawrence Journal-World and the Miami County Republic. She worked as a secretary with KU’s Design & Construction Management and was appointed as hometown news specialist at KU’s University Relations, coordinating with multiple media contacts throughout the state of Kansas. 

Jeannie copyedited multiple publications and projects through the Kansas Press Association and helped maintain the KPA’s library of more than 200 daily, weekly, targeted and alternative Kansas publications. She was a member of the William Allen White Community Foundation Board in Emporia, Kan.

Among her many civic activities, she was a longtime election worker the Douglas County election office and a graduate of the Citizen’s Academy of Lawrence Police Department. She was active with KU’s Alumni Endacott Society retirees’ group, enjoyed commiserating with fellow Lawrence gardeners and generously shared her annual bounty of heirloom tomatoes and peppers.

Even after Tom’s death in 2017, Jeannie continued traveling throughout Kansas and Oklahoma to visit friends, family and area museums. The pandemic thwarted many intended trips, including a long-awaited high school reunion in 2020. In an update to classmates, Jeannie wrote: “Among things I enjoy are museums and performing arts, history, geology, driving on road trips, reading on all topics, professional and intercollegiate rodeo, Saturday Night Live, music of all kinds, baking, gardening, sewing and building stuff, plus the affliction of too many interests, too little time. Always, I wish I could do more. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d been privileged to get to know and learn from such amazing people from all walks of life.”