Grayson County TXGenWeb

C. B. Crittenden
18 January 1924 - 10 December 2004

Joyce Crittenden
26 November 1926 - 28 August 2000

The Denison Herald
December 12, 2004

EX-HERALD publisher dies

Denison native began career in 1948
by Donna Hunt
Herald Democrat

Cleo B. Crittenden, native Denisonian who went through the newspaper ranks to become publisher of The Denison Herald, died early Friday morning at the James L. West Hospice in Fort Worth.
Crittenden, 80, began his newspaper career in 1948 when he went to work in the advertising department at the Herald. His tenure was interrupted when he was recalled to active Air Force service during the Korean conflict.
When he returned to Denison he headed the men's department at Madden's department store before returning to the Herald advertising department in the early 1950s. He was later promoted to advertising director and business manager.
When Fred Conn, long-time publisher, left the Herald to go to San Angelo, which at that time was headquarters for Harte Hanks Newspapers, as publisher, Crittenden was promoted to publisher and general manager in 1964, and served the newspaper for 10 years.
During that time he was active in business and civic affairs including the Chamber of Commerce, which he served as president in 1966, and held many other posts including chairman of the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. He also served on the Memorial Hospital board, now Texoma Medical Center, and the Denison Public Library Board.
John Crawford, former editor of The Denison Herald, said:
"Cleo led the Herald for 10 years, which were good years for the newspaper and the employees. After he became publisher he still remembers his advertising roots and took a hands-on approach to the job of publisher, visiting advertisers to learn if the Herald was doing a good job for them. He also expanded the editorial staff to keep pace with news coverage in the Texomaland area.
Crawford went on to say Crittenden was a good businessman and a good publisher. "He continued the progressive business management practices established by his predecessors Fred Conn. You always knew where you stood with Cleo," he said.
Crittenden resigned from the Herald in 1973 when he accepted a post as assistant publisher and general manager of the Temple Daily Telegram. A few years later he became associate publisher of the Hill County News and director of advertising for newpapers in the Taylor Group.
He and his wife, the former Joyce Hale, moved to Ardmore and operated a Kwik Kopy there for some time before retiring, buying a mobile home and traveling around the country for a number of years before settling down at Holly Lake Ranch in Big Sandy. After his wife's death in 2000, Crittenden moved back to Denison for a short time until he became ill and moved to Arlington to be near his daughter, Donna Kemper.
Crittenden served in the Air Force during World War II and was one of the youngest commissioned officers when he received his second lieutenant bars at age 17 in 1942. He retired from service as a captain.
Active in the Boy Scout program in Denison, Crittenden served as president of the Denison District in 1966-69 and in 1974 was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, highest adult award given in the Scouting program.
He also served as president of the Denison Rod and Gun Club, vice chairman of the Texoma Regional Planning Commission and a member of the Eisenhower Statue Committee.
Among his survivors are two daughters, Donna Kemper of Arlington and Deborah Hutson of El Cajon, Calif.; two sons, Bob Crittenden of Denison and Bryan Crittenden of Spring; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at gravesite in Fairview Cemetery Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.