The Lester Strother Texas Metro Records, 1917-1986Add to your cart.

By Jaime Janda

Collection Overview

Title: The Lester Strother Texas Metro Records, 1917-1986Add to your cart.
Predominant Dates: 1965-1983
ID: 01/ AR0327
Primary Creator: Lester James Strother (1925-2001)
Extent: 102.0 Boxes
Arrangement: The collection is organized in four series, two of which have been further arranged in sub-series. The contents of each series, including sub-series, are arranged alphabetically and/or chronologically. The arrangement scheme is noted for each series or sub-series, as needed.
Date Acquired: 00/00/1995. More info below under Accruals.
Languages: English

Abstract

The collection of Lester Strother, a Fort Worth magazine publisher and editor. Included in this collection are the records of the Texas Metro publication and personal records of Lester Strother and his second wife Dora Dougherty, a U.S. Military pilot and helicopter test pilot for Bell Helicopter.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection includes records pertaining to the Texas Metro publication and business, and personal records from Lester Strother and his second wife Dora Dougherty. Records from the Texas Metro publication and business include: secretary, general and other related materials such as advertising materials and mock-up ads, blank office forms, budget and salary information, subscription and subscriber information, carbon copies of response letters, projection and marketing plans, Texas Metro history, news releases and press packages; correspondence between employees, outside persons, other businesses, advertisers, freelance writers, hotels, vacation spots and many others; correspondence, photographs, pamphlets, brochures and general information from businesses, advertisers, vacation spots, event organizers, various Chambers of Commerce, and educational institutions; issues of the Texas Metro magazine from 1965-1975, and miscellaneous magazine, catalogs and books; and photographs used in the Texas Metro magazine from 1965-1972.

The personal records of Lester Strother include: letter correspondence between Strother and Dora Dougherty, Jean Strother (Strother's first wife), Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mack, Genevieve Ramos, Faye Pugh, Preston McGraw, other family members and persons, Senator Edward Kennedy, and telegraph correspondence with Huey P. Strother; Christmas and post cards; speeches given by Strother at events such as Law Day USA, Women in Aviation, Dallas Naval Air Station and other events; community theater event pamphlets attended by Strother and Dougherty during their courtship; genealogy materials; school notebooks; short stories, articles and playwrights by Strother and Dougherty; and other personal materials from Strother.

Collection Historical Note

Lester Strother (1925-2001) was an editor, publisher, stockholder and founder of the Dallas/Fort Worth Texas Metro Magazine.

Born on March 9, 1925 in Elizabeth, Louisiana, naval veteran Lester Strother graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and began an eighteen year long news career in editing, publishing and writing for a variety of papers and cities. He served as a staff correspondent with the United Press in Dallas, a public relations director for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and assistant city editor for the Fort Worth Star Telegram, among many others.

However, it was in 1965 when Strother established his legacy. He acknowledged that “…Dallas and Fort Worth were exceptionally ignorant when it came to a knowledge of each other” and subsequently founded the Texas Metro Magazine that would come to unify the two cities’ distinct identities ("Lester Strother to San Angelo Rotary Club"). As a result of his accomplishments, Mr. Strother would continue on to give countless speeches and lectures on successful journalism, advertising, and publishing to accredited universities including North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas).

Mr. Strother was a member of several associations, most notably, Sigma Delta Chi—professional news fraternity, Kappa Alpha Mu—professional photographic fraternity, the Press Club of Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Advertising Club, and the Dallas Advertising League. His awards include a Certificate of Appreciation from the Carswell Air Force base, the Ambassador of Goodwill award from the city of Richardson, Texas, a Pacesetter Award by the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce, and a Merit Award from the Fort Worth Advertising Club.

Mr. Strother passed away on August 12, 2001. He is buried in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia along with his second wife, Dora Jean Dougherty. They were survived by their adult sons, David and Grant.

Access Information

Access Restrictions:

This collection is not restricted.

Use Restrictions:

Reproduction and publication of materials in this collection are subject to the policies of the UNT Special Collections department. Copyright restrictions may apply.

Physical Access Note:

This collection is stored off-site and requires a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to use.

Reading Room or Duplication Requests

Depending on any access restrictions noted above, you may be able to request items be delivered to our reading room, or that we make reproductions for you. Just click on either the or icons in the listings below to be routed to our request form.

Administrative Information

Repository: Manuscripts
Accruals: 95-012, 95-020, 96-013
Acquisition Source: Lester Strother
Acquisition Method: Gift
Preferred Citation: The Lester Strother Texas Metro Records, University of North Texas Special Collections

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