Mitchell October 4, 1894. That same fall Lucius A. Long came to the Argus in place of Mitchell. Claude Robinson later bought Bowen out, and Mrs. Emma C. McKinney, already on the paper, purchased Robinson's half interest in April 1904. Henry G. Guild, veteran Oregon newspaper editor, who more than a quarter of a centry before had worked for H. B. Luce on the old Hillsboro Independent, purchased Long's interest in 1907 and was a partner of Mrs. McKinney until 1904, when she purchased his interest and Long returned to the paper with half-interest lease. A native of Wisconsin, where he was born in 1869, Long already had founded the Pacific County (Washington) Independent. He had either worked on or contributed to newspapers since he was 9 years old.
In 1923 Mrs. McKinney's son, W. Verne McKinney, Oregon State College graduate, became an active partner, and the paper is published under the name of McKinney & McKinney. He is editor and manager, with his mother as associate editor.
The Argus has won many honors in the last few years—including the Oregon best-weekly contest of Sigma Delta Chi for 1929 and 1936. Mr. McKinney has also achieved the honor of selection on one of Professor John H. Casey's All-American country newspaper teams. Honorable mention in National Editorial Association newspaper production contests came in 1934, 1935, and general excellence, 1935. The Argus was third-place winner in two national newspaper contests in 1937—general excellence and best editorial page; winner of second place in the National Editorial Association classified advertising contest in 1939; honorable mentions in general excellence and newspaper production contests, 1938, 1939.
In announcing appointment of Verne McKinney as right guard on the All-American Weekly Eleven for 1930, Professor Casey gave a short appreciation of the Argus and Mr. McKinney's work on it. He said:
Verne McKinney of the Hillsboro Argus wishes to give his mother, who is a partner with him in his publishing enterprise, credit for a large share of his success, but mothers are responsible in so large a measure for all of our successes. Besides, the ladies haven't taken to playing football in large enough numbers as yet. At right guard on the team I have Verne cast for the role of rural news editor because of his well-edited correspondence and his consistent efforts at agricultural development. The Argus was the first weekly in Oregon to take advantage of the circulation audit. The Argus has distinguished itself recently as best weekly in the state in a couple of contests ... An employment bureau is conducted at the newspaper office by Mrs. McKinney. In connection therewith, "work wanted" ads are run without
