12/11/2024
OPA Past President Ken Reid has died at the age of 98. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, including his sons current Weatherford Daily News publisher Phillip Reid and former Cushing Citizen publisher David Reid. Services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. in Weatherford.
Ken Reid, the former publisher of the Weatherford Daily News, passed away Monday at the age of 98. Reid, who led the newspaper alongside his wife, Phyllis, from 1972 until their retirement in 1998, is remembered for his profound impact on the newspaper industry in Oklahoma. Under his leadership, he not only guided the Daily News but also mentored a new generation of newspaper publishers, including his two sons, his brother, his brother-in-law and numerous former colleagues.
Reid’s contributions to journalism were widely recognized throughout his career. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame and served as president of the Oklahoma Press Association. Additionally, he was honored by the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame for his lifelong commitment to the field.
A Weatherford native, Reid’s roots in the community ran deep. His family, who settled in Oklahoma during the historic land run, represents the sixth generation of Reid’s descendants to call Weatherford home. The Reid family acquired the Weatherford Daily News from longtime family friend Jimmie Craddock, a former Southwestern Oklahoma State University football teammate of Reid’s father.
Reid was a steadfast advocate for community journalism, championing the role of local newspapers in illuminating critical issues while celebrating the achievements of local citizens. He believed in the power of the press to unite and uplift communities.
Throughout his tenure, the Reid family achieved several pioneering milestones in Oklahoma’s publishing history. They installed the state’s first daily newspaper press and were the first to implement computer software for newspaper circulation and accounting, developed in collaboration with SWOSU faculty. In addition, under Reid’s leadership, the Daily News became one of the first Oklahoma newspapers to offer full digital content on its website, a forward-thinking initiative that expanded the reach and impact of the paper.
Reid’s legacy is defined not only by his role in advancing the Weatherford Daily News but also by his lasting influence on the future of local journalism in Oklahoma.
Funeral services will under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Federated Church of Weatherford. A family burial will precede the service.
