Purcell Register

The Purcell Register is one of the
oldest continually-published newspapers
in Oklahoma.
There have only been nine owners
of The Register in its illustrious
existence.
The Montgomery family has owned the
newspaper since January of 1990
when John D. and Gracie purchased
it from the Nance-McCurdy family,
who had published The Register
for 55 years.
The newspaper got its start under
Ed P. Ingle when he came to
Purcell. Its first issue was Nov. 23,
1887. Ingle played a big part in the
early development of Purcell and
was a leader in the planning of the
town site.
Ingle was also very instrumental in
the founding of the town of Norman.
In July 1889, Ingle established
The Norman Transcript and sold The Register to Mangum.
Later the newspaper was sold
to Walker, who quickly
established himself as one
of the greatest editors in the
southwest.
Walker’s greatest achievement
was an almost singlehanded
editorial campaign that
ultimately led to the statehood.
Walker’s chapter in The
Register history spanned
from September 1890 until
his death.
R. H. Parham, former publisher
of The Pauls Valley
Democrat, purchased the
controlling interest in The
Register in 1910. He continued
with The Register until
he purchased The Norman
Transcript and moved there as
business manager of the paper.
The fifth chapter in the rich
history of The Register was
when J. Guy Hardie gradually
acquired ownership of the
newspaper in 1916. His business
manager was Jenks.
Hardie, who died in 1934,
was an aggressive, ambitious
editor and publisher and
worked for the improvement
and expansion of Purcell.
James C. Nance, who at the
time was publisher of The
Walters Herald, purchased
The Register from Hardie’s
widow, Martha Hardie in 1935.
Nance was already a very
prominent publisher and also
one of the state’s top political
personalities.
He remains the only person
to serve as both Speaker of
the House of Representatives
and President Pro Tempore of
the Senate.
Maxwell McCurdy joined
the newspaper staff in 1937
when he married Nance’s
daughter, Rosamond. Maxwell
eventually assumed the duties
as President, Editor and Managing
Editor.
Tom McCurdy was named
publisher of The Register
in 1973 after working at the
newspaper from November
of 1967. He also worked at
the newspaper at an early age.
Now the Montgomerys have
added another generation to the
staff with John Denny and Emily Montgomery working at the newspaper.