T.J. Hubbard, Bellefontaine Examiner publisher and general manager, received a surprise Thursday, April 24, when he walked into a roomful of guests at the Bellefontaine City Council Chambers, who had gathered for a ceremony to recognize the Examiner’s 134-year history in serving Logan County.
Bellefontaine Mayor Dave Crissman presented Mr. Hubbard with a key to the city, honoring the business that has been family-owned and operated since its inception in 1891. The mayor noted this is a first-of-its kind presentation for the City of Bellefontaine.
The newspaper publisher and general manager thought he was simply attending a meeting with his wife, Hollie, and Mayor Crissman at the city building, and didn’t know about the special presentation. So spotting family members, friends, newspaper employees, fellow business owners, chamber staff, and city and county officials was a pleasant surprise.
“We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for all of your support,” the 1994 Bellefontaine High School graduate and 1998 Bowling Green State University graduate said to the guests seated in the council chambers. “We’re so grateful to our community and to each of you.”
The Examiner printed its first edition Dec. 14, 1891 and, barring minor single copy disruptions caused only by inclement weather, has continued to publish continuously since.
First established by brothers Edwin “E.O.” and Horace “H.K.” Hubbard, the newspaper was intended as an independent daily edition of the Democratic Weekly Examiner that had been published by their father, Thomas A. Hubbard since he and his brother, William Hubbard returned from the Dayton area in 1868.
Thomas A. Hubbard Sr. died in 1902 and E.O. Hubbard followed in 1917, and the newspaper became a joint ownership among the siblings of the family, which also included Josephine and Ada Hubbard, as well as noted local educator Thomas A. Hubbard Jr. and nationally-acclaimed humorist Frank McKinney Kin Hubbard who created the nationally syndicated Abe Martin character.
In 1930, future publisher Thomas T.E. Hubbard joined the editorial staff, and by 1936, when H.K. Hubbard passed away, he had gained some financial interest in the business.
By 1970, T.E. Hubbard would gain full ownership of the newspaper and he worked with Thomas & Marker Construction to build the 11,500 square-foot office and printing facility at 127 E. Chillicothe Avenue to replace the paper’s former home at 130-136 Court St.
Computer technology continued to advance the newspaper’s information gathering and production capabilities under T.E. Hubbard’s leadership, although he himself typed news notes on a manual typewriter until his death in December 2001.
Since the death of Mrs. Thomas Hubbard in 2015 and her son Jon Hubbard in March of 2023, the ownership passed to T.J. Hubbard, who continues to operate the business today.
During the past year, the Examiner marked another milestone when it moved to its current location Aug. 1, 2024, in the PeakFiber building, 1213 W. Sandusky Ave., Bellefontaine, after spending nearly 50 years at the east Chillicothe Avenue facility.
