StettlerLocal.com December 10, 2021 @ 9:00am
1965 was a good year for Stettler businessman and community booster Roy Willis. Mr. Willis was the editor of the Stettler Independent after taking the operation over from his father, Charles.
In October of that year, the Stettler Independent was awarded Best All-Around Newspaper by the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association. The Camrose Canadian was awarded second in that class, and the Calgary North Hill News took third. The Independent was noted as having a circulation of more than 3,000
In November, Willis also received the Stettler Board of Trade's Citizen of the Year. Some of his many contributions to the community mentioned at the banquet included: Head of the town's 60th Jubilee celebration, member of the school board, Rotarian, and past president of the Board of Trade.
Willis concluded his humble and short speech of the evening by saying:
"I've been here a good half-century, and I expect to be here a good while longer...
..and I have no great ambition other than to put out a better Newspaper. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this award."
In November of 1965, Willis would also purchase the Castor Advance.
Mr. Willis would be editor and publisher of the Independent for several more years before turning the company over to his sons. He would continue writing editorials in the paper until his passing in 2008 at 91.
Carson Ellis, Local Historian
Our Town Stettler
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