By Billy Crawford
1964: Quinn Buys The Leesville Leader
Thank you for reading the recent article on Mr. Ford. For 27 years, from 1937-1964, Mr. Curry Ford was owner, feature writer, editor, and publisher of the weekly Leesville Leader newspaper.
Curry hands Quinn keys to the Leesville Leader
A Closer Look at Archie Quinn
Mr. Quinn was a long-time Memphis newspaper man and friend of Mr. Ford. He was the assistant city editor at the Memphis Commercial Appeal when he resigned to purchase the Leader.
Born in Greenwood, Mississippi, he was educated at public schools there and at the University of Mississippi in Oxford before serving in World War II.
The transition went smoothly with the paper staff remaining, including Earl Jackson, C.B. Waltmon, Lynn Martin, Vera Stanley and Gladys Parker.
Mr. Quinn became very popular immediately with his PROFILE column he wrote. In researching this story in the Vernon Parish Library Archives, I found why his column was so popular. Below is one example.
PROFILE—December Edition, 1965
By Archie Quinn
Letters to Santa Claus are part of the tradition as old as the bewhiskered old gentleman himself (there are times we’ve wondered if he really is a gentleman, sneaking into houses in the middle of the night).
Last week we asked St. Nick if we could see some of the letters from the Vernon Parish area, explaining the time-honored newspaper policy of publishing such letters at Christmas.
So, here we offer the principal gifts requested:
Mayor R. J. Fertitta– a municipal disposal, pulverizing into thin air immediately all garbage and trash in the city.
School Superintendent Curtis Bradshaw–Permanent schools.
Buddy Williams–His name in the paper. (Ed. Note: Merry Christmas Buddy)
Representative Bert Adams–Seven Bridges tied up in one wet sock.
Court Clerk R. L. “Babe” Winfree–A can of 3-in-one oil for his election night bunk.
Ted Broyles–More Democrats voting Republican
Dick Pollard–A Black Tie
Tax Assessor Ariel Cavanaugh–Nothing–He never had it so good.
Police Chief–C.C. “Buck” Daubs–Establishment of another Police Station at Anacoco Lake.
Lions Club–Thirteen more Saturdays during the year when tickets may be sold on Third Street.
Oscar Morris–A hole in the wall between his office and Buck’s Cafe, so he won’t have to walk out in the cold to see who is drinking coffee.
H.B. “Boots” Sartor–A contract for all those Dodges and Plymouths at Fort Polk.
Property owners on Lake Vernon–Just water–acres and acres of water.
Louis Moses–A set of golf clubs to go along with his putter.
Winford Morris– An employee to sweep off the sidewalk in front of his business.
James Monk–Retirement pay in cash, so he won’t have to go all the way to the bank.
Archie Quinn–Aw, you know what!!!