The Greer Citizen

    The Greer Citizen was founded on May 10, 1918 and from the beginning it was truly a family-oriented business. Publisher P.W. Smith purchased the business in 1920, and his sons, Bill and Charles P., worked in the print shop. P.W. Smith served as a reportor, editor and manager of the business, while his wife wrote on social matters. In 1936, the Smiths sold the paper to Tup Lucas, who published the paper until June 1, 1942, later selling it to Edd A. Burch.    A native of Eastman, Ga., Burch began his career as associate editor of The Bartow Herald in Cartersville, Ga. (1931 - 1936) and editor of The Dalton Citizen in Dalton, Ga. (1937 - 1942). Burch purchased The Greer Citizen when it maintained a circulation of only 1,400, but by 1976, under Burch's management, the circulation grew to 8,500, and by the 1990s, the paper's circulation reached more than 10,000. Burch continued to serve as editor and publisher for 43 years until he died on Aug. 7, 1985. Remaining steadfast in the family-oriented values the paper was founded upon, Burch's sons, Leland and Walter,    succeeded their father's work.   Leland joined the newspaper staff as news editor after graduating from Wofford College in 1961, and Walter became advertising manager after graduating from Presbyterian College and serving two years of active duty in the U.S. Army, later becoming the paper's general manager.   On Sept. 30, 2006, Buchheit News Management, a Spartanburg-based company, officially acquired The Greer Citizen. Don Wilder was named publisher, having worked with the Buchheit family since the 1970s at The Union (SC) Daily Times, The Williamson (WV) Daily News and Hometown News in Spartanburg. In January 2013, Wilder retired and Steve Blackwell was named publisher. Blackwell, a graduate of Gardner-Webb, started working with the Buchheit family in 1984 at The Union Daily Times and later served as publisher for Hometown News.   From it's current location on Trade Street, The Greer Citizen continues to serve the Greer community, in addition to Taylors, Lyman, Wellford and Duncan communities, as a family-run business. The weekly paper maintains a long, loyal history in the upstate, reporting on locally focused news, sports events, local Living Here features spotlighting individuals and organizations in the community and religion features. To submit your news, calendar items or get your copy of The Greer Citizen, visit us at downtown at 317 Trade Street, Greer SC 29651.

The Greer Citizen

317 Trade Street Greer, SC 29651

Phone: 1-864-877-2076

Sign Up For Breaking News

Stay informed on our latest news!

Manage my subscriptions

Subscribe to Greer Citizen newsletter feed
Comment Here