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Collinsville City Swimming Pool 2005
Hours: 1-7pm Mon-Fri. &
Noon-6pm Sat
Cost: $1.50 per person
Senior Citizens $1.00
Pool Party Rentals: Mon-Fri 7:30-9:30pm or Sat. 6:30-8:30 or Sat. 8:30-10:30pm
Rental Costs: $60 for first 25 people & $15 per 10 additional people
Party payment must be made one week in advance
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Ted Wright -- last update 6/3/2005 (Retherford.html) www.cvilleok.com

Copyright 2005 -- Collinsville, Oklahoma

Founder of Retherford Publications
Bill R. Retherford Died June 2nd
June 3, 2005
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Bought The Collinsville News
In 1987
Newspaper Now In 107th Year

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Web www.cvilleok.com

Bill R. Retherford, founder of Retherford Publications died early June 2 after a brief illness. Funeral services are set at 2 p.m. Monday, June 6 at Eastland Church of the First Born, 13140 East 21st St., Tulsa.

Survivors include his wife Mary of the home, a son Tim and daughter Lisa Walker, two grandsons, William and Stephen Retherford, and granddaughter Alexandria Walker; one brother, Orlo Retherford, and one sister, Bertha Greenfield. Burial will be at Floral Haven Cemetery under the direction of Floral Haven Funeral Service.

Mr. Retherford grew up in Cushing where he began his newspaper career selling left-over copies of the Tulsa World from a brother's Cushing route and another brother's Cushing route of the Daily Oklahoman. He also sold the Sunday Oklahoman ''Bulldog'' edition flown into Cushing by chartered Piper Cubs. Graduating from high school in 1948, he attended Oklahoma A&M College for two and a half years. He worked part time in the Cushing Daily Citizen's advertising department, commuting to college from his Cushing home. He became circulation manager of the Cushing paper in 1950, leaving college to wed Mary, his wife of 54 years. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 and after his service, returned to college, re-named Oklahoma State University, graduating in 1956. He worked part time for the OSU O'Collegian and part time for the Cushing paper during his final two years of college. Receiving a Business Journalism degree, he became advertising manager and later general manager of the Broken Arrow Ledger, Bixby Bulletin, Jenks Journal and Tulsa Southside Times.

It was in 1965 that he purchased the Tulsa County News and Owasso Reporter, marking the beginning of Retherford Publications. Since that time, he has purchased and started 19 newspapers to build the largest privately owned newspaper group in Oklahoma. He has been active in the Oklahoma Press Association programs for more than 50 years, serving on committees, the board and as president. He also has been state president of the Oklahoma Jaycees, National President of the American Court and Commercial Newspapers and an active member of the Suburban Newspapers of America. Publication titles owned and produced by Retherford Publications Inc. are Bixby Bulletin, Broken Arrow Daily Ledger, Catoosa Times, Collinsville News, Coweta American, Glenpool Post, Guffey's Real Estate Journal, Jenks Journal, Mannford Eagle, Keystone Lake Marketplace, Owasso Reporter, Pennysaver, Sand Springs Leader, Sand Springs Marketplace, Skiatook Journal, Tulsa Business Journal, Tulsa County News, Tulsa Daily Commerce and Legal News and the Wagoner Tribune.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorial contributions be made to the Eastland Church of the Firstborn, c/o Dan Davis, 10619 S. Oxford Ave., Tulsa, Ok., 74137.

Bill Retherford (standing left) shook hands with John Wright in February 1987 after purchasing "The Collinsville News". Retherford's wife Mary is also in the photograph, as well as Don Wasson, then editor of the news.