State

April 7, 1934 THE STATE Page Eleven HOME-TOWN BOY MAKES GOOD IN HOME TOWN BY VICTOR MEEKINS Joseph Roy Parker, the Ilearst of Hertford County, is some less than 39 years old. He be¬ gan life on a Hertford County farm. In a town of 2,000 or less, surrounded by folks he grew up with, handicapped by tho usual indifference to be found in EVERYBODY makes a lot of fuss, says Mr. Meekins, about the home-town boy who makes good in the big city, but nothing much is ever said about the chap who sticks by the old home town and makes good there. Here's the story of Roy Parker, who did considerable traveling, but finally decided there was no place in the world like Hertford County, his home. small home town, he has become one of the best known newspaper men in the state. At Mauteo, last July, Roy Tarker was named president of the North Carolina Press Association. This rec¬ ognition came, not only because he had found time from a busy career, to de¬ vote much of his energies to the serv¬ ice of the press of the state, but also because of his signal success in his chosen field, and because of the out¬ standing type of newspaper service he is rendering his community and his state. Young Mr. Parker graduated with a law degree ai Wake Forest College in 1915. With about $500 borrowed capital he purchased a half interest in the Hertford County Herald, a paper that had experienced an indif¬ ferent success, and for which he had worked during college vacations. He was co-owner with James S. Vinson, but at the outbreak of the war, he en¬ listed in the service, and left the pa¬ per to get along after a fashion until after hostilities had ceased. Parker about that time lost his wife. Life became drab in tho small town, and he went to sea. As a member of the U. S. Navy he went to Europe on the U. S. S. Frederick, transporting Annapolis athletes for the Olympic games. While away, he visited Ant¬ werp, Paris, Rotterdam, Russia, and England. In the fall, he returned to his paper. There was still the urge to remain in the old home town, but there re¬ mained the old sense of loneliness to make his work incomplete. He thought too, that he needed more experience to follow his career to the end, and find its greatest satisfaction. After less than two years at the mast-head of his paper, he leased his interest to Vinson, and went to Logan, West ROY PARKER, who is president of the North Carolina Press Association ond publishes four different newspapers. Virginia, as city editor of the Demo¬ crat. At the end of three months, in his search for more training, he re¬ signed and attended the Journalism School of tho University of Missouri. From there he went to Hornell, New York as sports editor of the Tribune. “At that point,” says Roy Parker. “I became tired of roaming around, and fully made up my mind to stick to the old home town. I figured if I could make good anywhere, why shouldn’t I do as well at home.” The foregoing is related simply as background for the story of a young man who made good in the old home town. The evidence of his success is on every hand. For two years in suc¬ cession,* tho Hertford County Herald was awarded the Walter П. Savory loving cup. for the best weekly in the state, nis is the only paper over hon¬ ored in like manner. Other evidence in the success of the Hertford County Her¬ ald is found in the transfer of Vinson’s share in fche paper to Mayon Parker, a brother of Roy for about $18,000. Vin¬ son had decided to sell out, and go into other fields. By October, 1932, the Parker brothers had become owners of four newspapers, the Ledger-Advance at Windsor, tho News at Jackson, and the Index at Gatcsville. Their own two story building at Ahoskie, houses a complete newspaper plant, commercial printing department and office supply store. Now there is much that is said about the home town boy who goes away and makes good. He is always a sub¬ ject for the local editor and the coun¬ try store loafers to brag about. After all, in many cases he is a fellow who thinks the old home town isn’t big enough for him; he often thinks he can make his way easier somewhere else, and that is why he goes away. In many cases he is simply fooling himself. If he has energies and abil¬ ities, he is going where they will have to work harder. All his associations must be formed anew, all his friends must be gained by years of back¬ breaking struggle and heart-breaking experience. And all his abilities and efforts are devoted to the upbuilding of a strange town, among strange peo¬ ple, who know or care little about him, who will fawn at his feet when the wind blows fair, but who will be the first to give him a kick in the pants when ho is down. It is true that a prophet is some¬ times without honor in his own coun¬ try. Roy Parker says ho often thought of this old adage. It is true that the home folks will expect a little more of a man than strangers will expect; and will sometimes administer a more severe chastising to the local boy when he makes a slip. But it is not true always as the case in a strange city where they kick the fellow to make ( Continued on page twenty-two )