What is a legacy?
Earlier this month, the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce recognized the Gillette News Record at its annual awards banquet with the Legacy Award.
The Gillette News Record is a legacy to our community, from the many that pioneered its beginning to those who built it to what it is today.
From its early inception started by the Nisselius family to the Kennedy/Turner family, the Gillette News Record has seen many changes in our community with a goal of providing the community with the news and reporting that have made an impact on Gillette and Campbell County.
In 1920, Arthur Nisselius went to work for the Gillette News and later worked for the Campbell County Record, which he purchased in 1923. He then purchased the Gillette News and combined the two newspapers into The News-Record.
Nisselius passed away in 1962, and his wife, Hazel, and son Jack remained in partnership of the newspaper. Mrs. Nisselius sold her interest in 1967 and retired. Bruce and Betty Kennedy of Greybull partnered with Nisselius and his wife Christine in 1970 and over the years Mr. Kennedy co-published with Mr. Nisselius until the time of his passing in 1992.
For the next 29 years, Betty Kennedy continued to publish their newspapers and their three children, Brian, Ann and Bob followed in their parents’ footsteps as their daughter Ann Kennedy Turner co-published and served as editor of The News-Record and son Bob Kennedy co-published the Cody Enterprise. Mrs. Turner served as publisher of The News Record until her retirement in 2022.
I started with the company in 2009 as General Manager of the Gillette Advertiser. In 2010, I transferred to The News Record sales team and worked there until 2012. In 2020, Mrs. Turner reached out and asked if I would like to come back to the team. In 2022, the Kennedy/Turner family sold the Gillette News Record and Cody Enterprise to Louie Mullen of Buffalo.
I received the title of publisher in 2023. I am proud to lead an awesome team of individuals who carry the same thoughts and work ethic as those who preceded us. The Gillette News Record is more than bricks and mortar, it is a legacy of individuals that took pride in their community and built a newspaper that has been honored with being the oldest business in Campbell County. The Gillette News Record has been here for 120 years, and we are looking forward to the next 120 years.
On behalf of the Gillette News Record team, we say thank you for this wonderful recognition.