Events to honor Branson, remember Eblen

Events  this week and next will celebrate a 60-year career in the newspaper business and the life of a long-time supporter of Kansas journalism.

Open House for Branson

An open house is planned for Thursday, Feb. 24 to help Paul Branson Sr. celebrate a 60-year career working for the three newspapers in Miami County.

The celebration will be from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Little Town at 117 S. Pearl St. in Paola. A special presentation will take place at 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served

Branson received the Kansas Press Association’s Gaston Outstanding Mentor award in 2012.

Branson worked for former Osawatomie Graphic editor and publisher Web Hawkins for years, then continued working for NPG Newspapers when that company bought the Graphic, the Miami County Republic and the Louisburg Herald.

Jeannie Eblen memorials

Two opportunities to celebrate the life of Jeannie Kygar Eblen are scheduled in late February and early March.

Eblen died Nov. 11, 2021.

On Saturday, Feb. 26, a reception will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Big 12 Room at the University of Kansas Memorial Union, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence.

The second event, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, will take place at the Bull Building, 165 E. Main St., Sedan, near where she grew up.

Both events are open house formats and will include memorabilia from Eblen’s life.

Memorials are suggested to the Glorious Red Pen Scholarship at KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, Kan., 66044-0928, or the Kansas Newspaper Foundation, #351, 4021 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, Kan. 66064.