Who We Are

Poor Rudy Taylor.

He didn’t fit into any of our other web pages simply because he doesn’t work in any particular newspaper office.

His personal office is located in Caney where he has been a weekly publisher for 38 years, but he wears lots of other hats when he sits down to his computer each morning. On his screen he will find bits and pieces of four totally different newspapers and he will involve himself in writing for each one.

He does his editorial and column writing on Sunday mornings around 7 o’clock between sips of hot coffee and glancing through the Tulsa World. Then he arrives at the office Monday to find emails from his daughter, Jenny Diveley, as she plans her editions of the Flint Hills Express and Sedan Times-Star. And, he meets via telephone each morning with Rena Russell, editor of Labette Avenue, to see which stories will merit front page space and making sure all news bases are covered.

The Montgomery County Chronicle, edited by his son, Andy Taylor, and managed by Kathy Taylor, also needs his input but his involvement usually stops with sending them his “Off the Cuff” column and a couple of editorials.

Rudy designs the front pages of the Flint Hills Express, Sedan Times-Star and Labette Avenue, which is done totally on a computer, then the sends those pages to the Parsons Sun printing plant where all Taylor newspapers are printed. At the same time, pages are being produced by employees in Caney, Independence, Sedan and Oswego and they, too, will send their completed pages electronically to the same printing company.

It is that technology that allows Rudy and Kathy to continue publishing small-town newspapers, because it doesn’t require the expense of traveling a lot. Instead, they utilize area reporters and photographers — most of them volunteers — who submit digital photos, stories and ads for inclusion in their hometown newspaper.

Rudy is also an author and recently published his first book, “Light On Main Street,” which was named one of the top 15 books by Kansas authors in 2007. He does a lot of speaking to small groups about his book and audiences enjoy hearing him read excerpts from the book.

Many years ago, Rudy was a radio and television announcer and he has kept his skills honed by doing occasional commercials for selected clients. Truth be known, radio was his first love so you can see why this website with its audio streaming has excited him. And, excitement is important to a guy who is 62 years old. He does all his recording from his office which his wife says has started to resemble a radio station.

Rudy and Kathy were childhood sweethearts and have spent most of their adult lives publishing country newspapers in southeast Kansas. In addition to their son and daughter, Andy Taylor and Jenny Diveley, who have joined the family publishing business, they have a son, Matt Taylor, who works in banking at Holton, Kan.

Rudy and Kathy enjoy working in their flower gardens as a hobby. They are members of the Tyro Christian Church.