Newspaper Pioneer

Durant Weekly News

Friday, December 17, 1948

Caddo Herald Editor Passes

“Guy A. Crossett, veteran publisher of The Caddo Herald passed away at 1:45 p.m. Thursday at his Caddo home following an extended illness. He was 68 years of age.”

The heart and voice of a small town is often found in its newspaper. This was true of Caddo from its inception, but for nearly fifty years the primary voice for Caddo was Guy Crossett. Mr. Crossett arrived in Caddo in 1899 and became the editor and publisher of The Caddo Herald in 1901 after the death of John S. Hancock. He remained in that position until just before his death in 1948.

Mr. Crossett was a member of a newspaper family which influenced communities all over the state. Guy learned the printing trade in Arkansas where he worked in a shop owned by his brother-in-law, J.W. Gardner. His brother, F. L. Crossett published a paper at Davis, OK. Roy E. Crossett published The Soper Democrat. His sister Annie Crossett Schooler helped her husband publish The Hugo News. Guy’s son was assistant advertising manager of the McAlester News-Capital.

Guy Crossett was dedicated to community service and was active in the Caddo Methodist Church. He was a member of the board of trustees and also church treasurer. At one time he was district lay leader of the Durant district. He was chief clerk of the Caddo Order, Woodmen of the World, and served as enrolling and engrossing clerk in the state legislature. He was chief clerk of the first and third legislative sessions and was a personal friend of former Governor W. H. Murray. He was once a candidate for the state senate, in 1924 and served several terms as justice of the peace at Caddo. At his funeral Rev. J.D. Price said “No eulogy is needed for Guy Crossett. His life among you speaks for itself. We need only to be reminded of the influence he wielded in his community and on his fellow man by the friendly common touch he always had. As a result of my association with him I know that as long as I preach, my sermons will contain some of the philosophy given me by Guy Crossett.”

The Caddo Methodist Church was “filled to capacity” for Mr. Crossett’s funeral. His pallbearers were Henry F. Bass, Judge John L. Boland, W.W. Boone, H.I. Meadows, J.P. Maytubby, and Arvin Ellis all of Caddo, B. R. Cook of Atoka, and Bennett Story of Durant.