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Former Tribune editor, general manager remembered
Tom Eblen, former editor and general manager of The Fort Scott Tribune, once shared his gifts and talents with the newspaper, its staff and the community.
Some friends and former associates of Eblen’s spoke with the Tribune about the longtime journalist and news leader’s time at the newspaper, and the impact he had on their lives. The longtime journalist, mentor and educator, died June 10 at the age of 80 at Brighton Gardens in Prairie Village after a long illness.
Eblen’s career spanned six decades, including news leadership roles at The Kansas City Star and The Fort Scott Tribune before joining the University Daily Kansan as general manager and news adviser to hundreds of students. He focused on community journalism in work with the Kansas Press Association member newspapers, according to Eblen’s obituary published in the July 8 Tribune.
He spent six years – from 1980 to 1986 – as editor and general manager of the Tribune. He was a member and president of Fort Scott Rotary Club and active in promoting the community’s history.
Ken Lyon, former Tribune circulation manager and general manager, said he became acquainted with Eblen in late 1984 and re-acquainted with Frank and Sara Emery, longtime co-publishers of the Tribune. Lyon, who had an interest in computers, said he received a call from Frank Emery asking for his help at the Tribune.
Lyon said he came on as circulation manager to help computerize the Tribune’s subscriber information and office pay systems, which were done on paper up to that point. He said it took about two years to complete those processes.
“In late 1984 I met Tom, we became acquainted and he took a liking to me,” Lyon said. “He was one of those people who could draw people to him. He always had a smile, open arms. He was friendly and had an interest in the town. He was an outgoing individual.”
Lyon said he and Eblen became friends through their association at the Tribune and the Fort Scott Rotary Club.
“I had a lot of respect for him,” Lyon said.
Lyon said Eblen wrote an editorial for each paper focusing on items of local interest, and would sometimes write about state and national issues if there was a tie to the local area.
“He was a very personable guy,” Lyon said. “Everybody liked him. He was careful what he wrote about. He wanted it to be productive.”
Lyon said Eblen’s wife, Jeannie, was “also very outgoing and nice, and interested in school activities.”
Tribune Office Manager Teresa Klumpp, who has worked at the Tribune since 1985, said she remembers Eblen using a typewriter to distribute memos to office staff.