| Show THE UTAH NEWSPAPER HALL OF FAME Banner which was Lehifirst paper and for nearlyquarter ofcentury its only one Terming itself an advocate of free dom of religion liberal and independent politics and home industry the Banner had begun publication May 29 1891 asventure capitalized bygroup of community businessmen It soon became financially profitable which stockholders attrib uted to the untiring efforts of father and son George and Walter Webb the Publisher and Editor respectively The paper withstood an unsuccessful 1897 challenge from the Lehi Rustler launched by Camp competent but well-travelled Utah newsman also associated with other failed publications in several Utah communities among them Kanab Marysvale Elsinore and Park City In June 1912 James Kirkham an entrepreneurial Lehi businessman later commemorated in the Utah Newspaper Hall of Fame purchased the Banner He added publica tions in American Fork and Pleasant Grove and then in 1913 sold his Lehi paper to Will Ross the communityonetime Postmaster Scarcelyyear later on August 1914 Frank Gaisford Sr unveiled the Lehi Sun and on May 30 1917 this newcomer took control of the marketplace by acquiring the Banner Groundwork was laid on October 16 1930 for the next competitive chapter when Gaisford moved his plant from Lehi to American Fork He did so even though aware the decision might not be well-accepted since fierce competition existed between the two communities Almost immediately Lehi civic leaders agitated forlocally-produced paper and finally on August 25 1932 the Free Press came into existence Its pub lisher was George Price longtime employee of the Sun Emphasizing the reason for another local paper wasstate ment in the first edition The people of Lehi will again haveweekly newspaper printed in Lehi by Lehi citizens The acri monious rivalry begun at that time was still in existence when Russ Innes arrived on the scene Price had sold the Free Press to William Adamson James Pat Heal and John Leyland in 1945 and on April 1946 Heal purchased the interests of his partners He then sought 563 Digital image 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah Al rights reserved |
