Near Offices of "Rains County Leader"

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Some stories in Texas get told in granite and bronze, and some get told in ink, week after week, decade after decade. The story of the Rains County Leader is that second kind.

It started back in 1887, when a man named H. W. Martin founded a little paper in Rains County and called it The Argus.

Now that's a name with some weight to it, some ambition. But by 1900, the paper had shed that name and taken on a new one: the Leader. Simple, direct, the kind of name that says exactly what it intends to do.

Then in 1904, the paper was sold to a man named Tom W. Hill, Sr. And here is where the story gets interesting, because Tom W.

Hill, Sr. didn't just buy a newspaper. He became its editor, and he held that post all the way until 1937. Think about that span of time.

The world changed plenty between 1904 and 1937, and through all of it, there was Tom W. Hill, Sr., putting out the only newspaper in Rains County. When he finally stepped back, the chair didn't go to a stranger.

Earl Hill, Sr. took over as editor in 1937 and held the reins until 1960. Then Earl Hill, Jr. stepped in, carrying the family name right along with the responsibility, from 1960 to 1962. And then something worth noting happened.

Since 1962, the publishers of the Rains County Leader have been Nell Hill Butcher and Kathleen Hill Becknell. One newspaper, one county, and a family that just kept showing up to tell the story. That's how you become an institution.

What the marker says

Only newspaper in county. Founded 1887 by H. W. Martin as "The Argus." By 1900 was renamed "Leader." Sold 1904 to Tom W. Hill, Sr., editor until 1937. Earl Hill, Sr., was editor 1937-1960; Earl Hill, Jr., 1960-1962; since 1962 publishers have been Nell Hill Butcher and Kathleen Hill Becknell.