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THE TERRITORY'S EARLIEST NEWSPAPERS term vice president (1916-17) of Utah State Press Association, is enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Wasatch Wave Heber City's enduring newspaper was founded March 23, 1889 and 106 years afterward, in 1995, was published by Richard Buys, a great grand-nephew of its first editor-manager, William Buys. The family involvement, however, has not been continuous. Of its unique name, Buys wrote in the first edition, "In wafting the Wasatch Wave we realize it is but a tiny ripple upon the great ocean of journalism." The founding publisher left the paper on December 16, 1890, then returned in 1892. Buys was succeeded in 1893 by George Barzee and he, in 1895, by C. O. Glanville and Joseph A. Murdock. They surrendered control again in 1898 to Buys. Then, in what newspaper historian Cecil Alter labelled "Tag! You're It!," Buys returned publishing chores to Barzee early in 1905 -- but for only a few months. Afterward, Buys remained in charge until his death, November 27, 1909. Charles M. Broadbent became editor and manager on January 28, 1910. He would continue until 1939 before transferring the duties to John A. Wallis, who had been publisher of the Paris (Idaho) Post. He was a son of Vernal publisher and Utah State Press Association mainstay James Wallis. On March 3, 1942, brothers James H. (Dick) and Francis W. (Frank) Mountford purchased the Wave from Wallis. Dick departed two years later, but his younger brother remained in Heber City until June 30, 1958, when he bought the Washington County News in St. George, leaving the Wave in the hands of his son, James F. Mountford. When he moved to St. George because of his father's ill health, the Wave was temporarily in the hands of longtime employes Stewart Giles and Farrell Reynolds. On December 21, 1973, the founding publisher's descendant three generations removed, Richard M. Buys, resigned as Executive Manager of Utah Press Association and 47 |