Publication Date
6-1997
Abstract
On January 2, 1916, John Judy Middagh, Jr. was born to John Judy Middagh and Reba Fowler Middagh, in Lawrenceville, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri in 1938 and, after graduation, he worked at The Oklahoma News as a paper, boy and reporter until the paper ceased publication in 1939. Middagh then returned to The Odessa News-Times, and worked from June to September, 1939, when he left to, join the staff of the El Paso Herald-Post. When he returned from WWII, Middagh went back to work as a reporter and, telegraph editor at The El Paso Herald-Post until he joined the faculty of Texas Western College in September 1948 where he taught journalism. Middagh eventually became,the co-chairman of the Department of Journalism and Radio-Television, which was renamed the Department of Mass Communication. He was also director of the College's Student Publications. The John J. Middagh Papers, 1893-1973, bulk 1950-1972, consists primarily of research files collected and organized by Middagh over the course of his career as a reporter and journalism professor. His primary research was the history of El Paso; he also had files on current events of the times, such as Communist Propaganda, John F. Kennedy, and the first moon landing.