Weidie papers to be presented to university Oct. 29

The 3 p.m. public program will be held in the auditorium of the Butler-Williams Alumni Center. President Donald Zacharias and Dean of Libraries John Gaboury will lead the program.

Weidie, a 1963 Mississippi State political science graduate, was editor and publisher of the Ocean Springs Record from 1970 to 1990. During most of this time, he also was editor and publisher of the nearby Gautier Independent. Both publications are part of the national Gannett Co. chain.

In addition, he wrote a syndicated column called "The Political Scene" that was distributed to 17 daily and 27 weekly Mississippi papers.

In 1990, he sold his newspaper interests to become chief of staff in the Washington, D.C., office of newly elected Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.).

The Weidie Papers will be the second addition in as many weeks to Mitchell Memorial Library's growing Mississippi journalistic collection. Earlier this month, the artworks of Clarion-Ledger editorial cartoonist Mark Bolton were dedicated to the university.

"Mr. Weidie's collection will greatly enhance an already premier collection of materials encompassing outstanding Mississippians and Mississippi journalists," Gaboury said.

In all, the library has gathered the papers of approximately 20 members of the news reporting fraternity, among them former New York Times executive editor Turner Catledge, Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Hodding Carter Sr. of Greenville, McComb Enterprise-Journal editor and publisher J. Oliver Emmerich Sr., syndicated columnists Norma Fields and Bill Minor, and Scott County Times editor and syndicated columnist Sid Salter.

Weidie, 52, was born in New Orleans, but spent most of his life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The Pascagoula High School graduate attended graduate school at Louisiana State University and was a graduate fellow at the Millsaps College Institute of Politics. He also was a participant in programs of the American Press Institute of Reston, Va.

While an editor, he separately served the Mississippi Press Association as president, vice president, and treasurer.

Active in sports programs--particularly baseball--Weidie is a former state chairman of the American Baseball Coaches Association, former south state commissioner for the American Amateur Baseball Congress, and former general manager and coach of the Ocean Springs Blue Sox baseball team.

For additional information on the program, call 325-3061.