OBITUARY
J. Edwin Harvey
HARLINGEN, TX - J. Edwin Harvey, 87, retired newspaper editor associated
with the publishing industry over 45 years, died July 28, 2005, at
Valley Baptist Medical Center.
Born November 23, 1917, at Sentinel Oklahoma to Samuel and Eunice
Harvey, he began his newspaper career in 1934 as a printer`s devil at
the weekly newspaper and edited the school news page for Sentinel High
School. He received a BS degree in journalism and general business from
Oklahoma State University (formerly Oklahoma A&M) in 1940.
He purchased Carrollton Chronicle near Dallas when type was still set by
hand. He installed its first typesetting machine. He joined the Air
Force in 1941, selling the Chronicle. On discharge from the service, he
joined the staff of The Dallas Times Herald where he was assistant city
editor over 10 years. He resigned in 1953, purchasing The Mercedes
Enterprise.
At Mercedes, he became actively involved in civic affairs. He served as
president and board member of the Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce
board, and on the Mercedes Urban Renewal Commission under three
administrations. He was the first Valley publisher to install the offset
system of printing now used by all newspapers in the area.
He sold the Enterprise in 1965, moving to San Benito and was managing
editor of the San Benito News until retiring in 1980. He assisted in
installing their offset printing system. He served on the Kiwanis Club
board of directors, recently receiving a 48-year perfect attendance pin
and a life membership. He served on the Citizen`s Traffic Safety and
Downtown Revitalization Commissions.
During his newspaper career, Harvey covered several national and
international events including dedication of the Progreso International
Bridge; dedication of Falcon Dam and visit by President Eisenhower;
President Johnson`s visit after Hurricane Beulah; visit of President
Nixon to Rio Grande City school class. After Hurricane Beulah, Harvey
published a pictorial booklet titled Portrait of Beulah. Following his
retirement, he completed a Texas real estate license course.
In Harlingen, Harvey was a member of the former Shepherd`s Center Men`s
group and resided at Camelot Retirement Community.
Survivors include his wife of 33 years, the former Virginia Ainsworth; a
daughter, Terry (Qaterra) Lee Harvey of Harlingen; two grandsons,
Michael Hare of Midland and Ryan Harvey of Austin; four
great-grandchildren; three step-children, Jenny Halm of Raymondville,
Tina Richling of Ft. Collins, Colorado and Capt. Stanley Wilkinson, U.S.
Air Force, Ret. of Biloxi, Mississippi; and five step-grandchildren.
Harvey was preceded in death by his son, Edwin Kendall Harvey, on
December 13, 1992.
Visitation will be held today, (Wednesday) from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. with
family greeting friends from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Chapel Services will be held Thursday, August 4, 2005 at 10 a.m. at
Henry Thomae Funeral Home with Rev. Sam Hunnicutt officiating. Interment
will follow at Mont Meta Memorial Park where he will rest with his son.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the San Benito Kiwanis Club.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the San
Benito Kiwanis Club Scholarship fund, Temple Baptist Church of San
Benito, or a charity of choice.
Services have been entrusted to the care of Henry Thomae Funeral Home,
701 N. Bowie San Benito. 399-9992.
Published in Valley Morning Star on Aug. 2, 2005. |
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