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The ''Eastern Arizona Courier'' is a weekly newspaper published in
The ''Graham Guardian'' began publication on March 9, 1895, edited by John J. Birdno. Birdno left the paper in 1917, and John F. Weber took over the editorial reins. In 1922 W. M. Moore and Clyde W. Ijams became the editors, and the following year the paper merged with ''The Gila Valley Farmer'', which had been formed in 1916.
The ''Farmer's'' history dated back to 1882, with the creation of the ''Graham County News'', before going through several name changes: ''The Clifton Clarion'' (1883–1889), ''The Valley Bulletin'' (1889–1890), ''Graham County Bulletin'' (1890–1897), and ''The Arizona Bulletin'' (1897–1916). After the merger, the paper was renamed the ''Graham County Guardian and Gila Valley Farmer'', with William B. Kelly as the editor. Kelly had come over from the '' Bisbee Daily Review''.
Kelly edited the paper until 1943, when it was purchased by the Gila Printing and Publishing Company, which changed the name to the ''Graham County Guardian''. In 1946 Earl Hunt became the paper's editor. In 1975, Gila Printing, owned by Louis F. Long, sold the ''Graham County Guardian'' to Robert G. Gentry, who had published the ''Eastern Arizona Courier'' of Safford since 1967. Gentry merged the two papers together to form the ''Eastern Arizona Courier and Graham County Guardian'' and then sold them in 1983 to
Safford, Arizona
Safford (Western Apache language, Western Apache: Ichʼįʼ Nahiłtį́į́) is a city in Graham County, Arizona, Graham County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 Census, the population of the city is 10,1 ...
. Its roots go back to March 1895, when it was founded as the ''Graham Guardian'' by the Guardian Publishing Company, and edited by John J. Birdno.
History
The ''Graham Guardian'' began publication on March 9, 1895, edited by John J. Birdno. Birdno left the paper in 1917, and John F. Weber took over the editorial reins. In 1922 W. M. Moore and Clyde W. Ijams became the editors, and the following year the paper merged with ''The Gila Valley Farmer'', which had been formed in 1916.
The ''Farmer's'' history dated back to 1882, with the creation of the ''Graham County News'', before going through several name changes: ''The Clifton Clarion'' (1883–1889), ''The Valley Bulletin'' (1889–1890), ''Graham County Bulletin'' (1890–1897), and ''The Arizona Bulletin'' (1897–1916). After the merger, the paper was renamed the ''Graham County Guardian and Gila Valley Farmer'', with William B. Kelly as the editor. Kelly had come over from the '' Bisbee Daily Review''.
Kelly edited the paper until 1943, when it was purchased by the Gila Printing and Publishing Company, which changed the name to the ''Graham County Guardian''. In 1946 Earl Hunt became the paper's editor. In 1975, Gila Printing, owned by Louis F. Long, sold the ''Graham County Guardian'' to Robert G. Gentry, who had published the ''Eastern Arizona Courier'' of Safford since 1967. Gentry merged the two papers together to form the ''Eastern Arizona Courier and Graham County Guardian'' and then sold them in 1983 to Wick Communications
Wick Communications (formerly known as Wick Newspaper Group) is a family-owned media company with 18 newspapers in 10 states. They also publish websites and other specialty publications. The home offices are in Sierra Vista, Arizona, and it has ne ...
. In 1984 the paper's name was changed to the ''Eastern Arizona Courier''.
In January 2025, Wick announced it was looking to sell the paper.
References
{{Wick Communications Newspapers published in Arizona Newspapers established in 1895 Weekly newspapers published in the United States 1895 establishments in Arizona Territory Mass media in Graham County, Arizona