Buckeye Wins First Families Of Ohio Honor

The Archbold Buckeye was among eight newspapers to receive a "First Families Award" at the 75th Ohio Newspaper Association convention, Feb. 13- 15, in Columbus.

The award honors owners and publishers of Ohio newspapers whose outstanding service to their readers and communities span decades.

Currently, the newspapers are owned by families who have served their communities for generations.

Buckeye Founded in 1905

William Orvell Taylor founded the Archbold Buckeye in 1905. He failed in two earlier attempts to start newspapers in Archbold because the population was mainly Swiss, German, and French. Few residents could read English.

Members of the W.O. Taylor family have owned and published the newspaper since its founding. His grandson, Ross Wm. Taylor, is the current publisher and editor.

Taylor family members, including Magdalena Taylor, Orrin R. and Gladys Taylor, Vincent and Jewell Taylor, Valetta Taylor Parlette, and O. Roger Taylor, were staff members. Orrin, Vincent, and Valetta also were past owners.

Today family members and shareholders are Ross' wife, Sharon, and their children, Brent and Jania.

The Archbold Buckeye was the first newspaper in Fulton County to publish twice a week before becoming a once-a-week publication.

Other honorees from Northwest Ohio included the Cullis family, publishers of the Bryan Times since 1923 and the Napoleon Signal since 2003; the Haswell family, publishers of the Bowling Green Sentinel- Tribune since 1906; the Snyder family, publishers of the Celina Daily Standard since 1848; and the White/Rau family members, owners of the Sandusky Register since 1822.