Roy A. Roberts
Encyclopedia
Roy Allison Roberts was a managing editor
, president
, editor
and general manager
of The Kansas City Star
who guided the paper during its influential period during the Presidencies of Harry S. Truman
and Dwight D. Eisenhower
.
Roberts was born in Muscotah, Kansas
and grew up in Lawrence, Kansas
where he as paperboy for the Star and studied journalism
at the University of Kansas
. One semester short of graduation he dropped out to work for the Lawrence Journal-World
to support his widowed mother and five siblings.
He joined the Star in 1909 as a sports reporter and switched to covering the Missouri Legislature in 1910. In 1915 Star founder William Rockhill Nelson
assigned him to be the Washington
correspondent.
After Nelson's death, he was among the employees who bought the Star and he came managing editor in 1928 and member of the board of directors.
Roberts was to be closely identified with shaping Kansas Republican
politics and he championed Kansas Governor
Alf Landon
in his unsuccessful 1936 race against Franklin Roosevelt.
During Roberts' tenure, Kansas City
rose to prominence thanks to the rise and fall of Big Boss Democratic
machine of Thomas Pendergast which was to see the rise of Harry Truman. Roberts and Truman did not always see eye to eye during this period.
Truman in the closing weeks of his administration was to bring actions against the Star that was to force it to divest itself of WDAF-TV
.
In 1953 Roberts married Florence G. Ross, the widow of Truman's Press Secretary Charles G. Ross.
Roberts championed Kansan Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 race.
In 1963 he stepped down as managing editor but became chairman of the board
and he officially retired in 1965. The paper won five Pulitzer Prize
s during his watch.
He was profiled in a Time
cover article on April 12, 1948.
Managing editor
A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...
, president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
, editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
and general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star is a McClatchy newspaper based in Kansas City, Missouri, in the United States. Published since 1880, the paper is the recipient of eight Pulitzer Prizes...
who guided the paper during its influential period during the Presidencies of Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
and Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
.
Roberts was born in Muscotah, Kansas
Muscotah, Kansas
Muscotah is a city in Atchison County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 176. Muscotah was named for the Kickapoo Native American word for "prairie"-History:...
and grew up in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
where he as paperboy for the Star and studied journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. One semester short of graduation he dropped out to work for the Lawrence Journal-World
Lawrence Journal-World
The Lawrence Journal-World is a daily newspaper published in Lawrence, Kansas by The World Company.-History:Though the Journal-World title only came into existence in 1911, according to the volume number of the current masthead of the paper, the paper dates itself back to 1858.The Simons family...
to support his widowed mother and five siblings.
He joined the Star in 1909 as a sports reporter and switched to covering the Missouri Legislature in 1910. In 1915 Star founder William Rockhill Nelson
William Rockhill Nelson
William Rockhill Nelson was a real estate developer and founder of The Kansas City Star. He donated his estate for the establishment of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.-Early life:...
assigned him to be the Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
correspondent.
After Nelson's death, he was among the employees who bought the Star and he came managing editor in 1928 and member of the board of directors.
Roberts was to be closely identified with shaping Kansas Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politics and he championed Kansas Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Alf Landon
Alf Landon
Alfred Mossman "Alf" Landon was an American Republican politician, who served as the 26th Governor of Kansas from 1933–1937. He was best known for being the Republican Party's nominee for President of the United States, defeated in a landslide by Franklin D...
in his unsuccessful 1936 race against Franklin Roosevelt.
During Roberts' tenure, Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
rose to prominence thanks to the rise and fall of Big Boss Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
machine of Thomas Pendergast which was to see the rise of Harry Truman. Roberts and Truman did not always see eye to eye during this period.
Truman in the closing weeks of his administration was to bring actions against the Star that was to force it to divest itself of WDAF-TV
WDAF-TV
WDAF-TV, virtual channel 4.1, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas designated market area. The station is owned by Local TV LLC, the media arm of private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners. Its studios and transmitter are located in the Signal Hill...
.
In 1953 Roberts married Florence G. Ross, the widow of Truman's Press Secretary Charles G. Ross.
Roberts championed Kansan Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 race.
In 1963 he stepped down as managing editor but became chairman of the board
Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
and he officially retired in 1965. The paper won five Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
s during his watch.
He was profiled in a Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
cover article on April 12, 1948.