The Junction City Daily Union has been in the Montgomery family for four generations and more than 130 years. Saying it was a difficult decision, publisher John G. Montgomery confirmed a change of ownership of the Junction City Daily Union, Abilene Reflector-Chronicle, and Wamego Smoke Signal.

Chris Walker and the White Corporation, owner of the Emporia Gazette, will assume ownership of the publications effective March 1. While Montgomery, president of Montgomery Communications, will be retiring from day-to-day operational responsibility, he will continue to maintain an office at the Daily Union, assist in the transition, and remain involved in an advisory capacity.

Montgomery stated, “As I am now 75 I felt that it was time to think about retiring, if not retire. So that was what drove me ultimately to the decision. And I’ve always had a great deal of respect for the White and Walker family from Emporia.”

Montgomery noted he wanted to keep the newspapers in Kansas, and run by a Kansas family he admired. There have been discussions on the sale for the past two years. He agreed it is bittersweet for him. “It is, absolutely. It is very difficult, and it was difficult this ( Monday ) morning when I told our department heads and other employees around the building what we were doing. It’s definitely bittersweet. I’m going to miss the industry, but I’m going to continue to have an office here, be in an advisory capacity, and make the transition as smooth as possible.”

Montgomery and his wife, Judy, will continue to reside in Junction City.

On major stories that he and the Daily Union have been involved with Montgomery noted a personal one…his arrival in Junction City in 1973 to join the family business. On the national level there have been the conflicts with Iraq and Afghanistan, and on the local level in recent years the tragic plane crash that took the lives of the Ron and Becky Bramlage family, and the passing of prominent developer Russell Johnson.

Montgomery said he tried to give the Junction City community the best possible newspaper they could for a community of this size. In recent years the primary focus was on local news.

Montgomery said he has been in the newspaper all of his life. He remembered returning to Kansas with his grandfather in the 1940’s and 50’s, and inserting pre-prints into newspapers. Later while his father John D. Montgomery published the paper he worked in the editorial and advertising departments, and then in 1973 returned to Junction City to become publisher.

The sale is effective Tuesday ( March 1 ).