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Submitted: 7/25/22 • Approved: 7/25/22 • Last Updated: 7/28/22 • R527514-G0-S3
O. G. "Speedy" Nieman
US Coast Guard
Korea
November 12, 1928-April 19, 1999
*Photo, courtesy of Mary (Coggin) Russell
*Obituary
Longtime Hereford newspaper published and editor, and veteran newspaperman, Orvil Gene “Speedy” Nieman, 70, died Monday, April 19, 1999, in Amarillo following a lengthy illness
Mr. Nieman retired July 1, 1998, as publisher and president of the Hereford Brand and North Plains Printing Inc. and assumed the honorary title of publisher emeritus.
After his retirement, he continued to write his well-known weekly column, “Hereford Bull”. The column, which regularly featured witty anecdotes, appeared until ill health prevented the tenured writer from making his long-standing daily appearance at the Brand office.
Mr. Nieman was a native of Lamesa. He graduated with honors from Lamesa High School in 1946 and was offered an appointment to West Point by Congressman George Mahon.
He elected, however, to attend Midwestern College at Wichita Falls on a football scholarship; however, after one semester, he transferred to Texas Tech University to play basketball.
In 1948, Mr. Nieman enlisted in the US Coast Guard and served during the Korean War.
He returned to West Texas after his release from military service in 1951, married Lavon Stewart at Hamlin while serving as editor of the Lamesa Daily Reporter. He continued his education at Tech while working as both a sports writer at the Lubbock Avalanche Journal and as sports reporter and editor at the Lamesa Daily Reporter, and as editor of the Texas Tech Ex-Student Publication.
Following his 1954 graduation from Texas Tech with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism, the young West Texan served as a sports writer with the San Angelo-Standard Times, then later was named as editor of newspaper operations at the Lamesa Daily Reporter, Brownfield News and Lamb County Leader News at Littlefield.
He worked on the news staff of the Midland Reporter-Telegram in 1964 before he became publisher, editor and co-owner of the Slaton Slatonite in 1965.
He and Lavon worked as a husband-wife team in that operation until they sold their interest in 1971, and entered a partnership with Roberts Publishing Co. of Andrews to purchase the Hereford Brand and its printing plant from James M. Gillentine.
The Nieman family, including sons Steve and Craig, moved from Slaton to Hereford during January of 1972.
Mr. Nieman was named publisher, editor and partner in the Hereford Brand and the newly re-organized North Plains Printing Co. in 1972. He succeeded Melvin Young as the 13th publisher of the Hereford Brand.
The paper continued to operate as a semi-weekly until Mr. Nieman converted the Brand into a five-day daily on July 4, 1976.
During his 26 year stint as a publisher and working editor of the newspaper. Mr. Nieman championed many business, civic and charitable causes in Hereford and Deaf Smith County – both individually, editorially and in addition to reporting and covering the community’s daily news events.
Among the many community-wide efforts he participated in, Mr. Nieman chaired Hereford’s 1993 attempt to locate a prison facility in Deaf Smith County. The prison drive, while unsuccessful, still brought a renewed sense of pride in the community –minded Nieman because of the town’s collective interest and unified effort to make the project a reality.
Mr. Nieman also helped the late business leader, Jimmy Witherspoon, promote and establish Hereford’s Christmas Stocking Fund – a charity which still benefits needy local families during Christmas each year.
Mr. Nieman was an active member and deacon of the First Baptist Church of Hereford, and also was a past president of the Hereford Lions Club and Deaf Smith Chamber of Commerce, served as chairman of the United Way, chairman/member of the Hereford Hustlers and as chamber economic development director.
In 1989, Mr. Nieman was named Hereford Citizen of the Year and was a two-time recipient of the chamber’s Hereford Bull Chip Award.
Professionally, Mr. Nieman served as president of three press associations, including the Texas Press Association, Panhandle Press Association and West Texas Press Association.
He also had been a director of the Texas Newspaper Association, and he had received a wide variety of professional commendations, including Texas Tech University’s Outstanding Alumnus Award, the Harold Hudson Memorial Newspaper Award and Hereford Regional Medical Center’s Outstanding Support Award.
In 1996, Mr. Nieman was inducted into the Panhandle Press Association’s Hall of Fame. He also received the Texas Press Association’s Golden 50 Award at its 1998 summer convention.
Additionally, the newspaperman was honored Oct. 22, 1998 at a Hereford community appreciation banquet at the Hereford Community Center, an event which was sponsored by Roberts Publishing Co. publishers and which drew more than 200 friends and colleagues.
Mr. Nieman also earned recognition for his community leadership while in Slaton.
He was named Slaton’s Man of the Year in 1970, served as president of the Slaton Chamber of Commerce, the Slaton Lions Club, Slaton Booster Club and Slaton Little League.
(Published in The Hereford Brand, 98th Year, Vol. Number 203, Deaf Smith County, Texas, Tuesday, April 20, 199, Page 1)
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Contributed on 7/25/22 by neldapat
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Record #: 527514