Dolph Simons Jr. and Crosby deMenocal
Recorded
July 23, 2023
Archived
July 23, 2023
28:49 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
mby022915
Description
Crosby deMenocal (35) interviews his grandfather, Dolph Simons, Jr. (93), about their family's newspaper business in Lawrence, Kansas. Dolph describes the history of the business beginning with his grandfather, W.C. Simons, and details the transformation of The Lawrence Journal-World through each generation of family leadership.Subject Log / Time Code
Dolph Simons, Jr. (DS) explains how his grandfather, W.C. Simons, came to Lawrence, Kansas at the age of 19.
DS explains how W.C. started his own paper in Lawrence.
DS reflects on W.C. continuing his ancestors' predisposition to work hard and persevere.
DS describes how his father, Dolph Simons Sr., got involved in the newspaper business by first working as a paper boy.
DS talks about what it was like to take the helm at the Lawrence Journal-World and wanting to uphold the standards that his dad and grandfather had set in place.
DS describes how the Lawrence Journal-World was one of the first papers in the country that expanded their catalog of ways to get the news, via telephone, internet, and television.
Crosby deMenocal (CD) asks DS what his thoughts are on the rise and fall of the newspaper and what it was like having to sell the Journal-World in 2016.
DS shares his regrets concerning what is happening with the newspaper business in the United States with many news entities now editorializing their news.
DS emphasizes the personal touch and commitment to the community of newspapers.
CD asks DS about his takeaways from working in and running a family business.
CD introduces Dolph Simons, Jr. and Leeanne Seaver's book titled "This Writer: The History of the Simons, an American Newspaper Family" which will be published in September 2023.
Participants
- Dolph Simons Jr.
- Crosby deMenocal