1938-39 Deskin Wells Wellington Leader

Deskins Wells, 61st president, was born in Wellington on May 18, 1902. He graduated from the University of Texas with his journalism degree in 1924.

As a youngster, he had worked on the Wellington Leader during the summers and during college was a reporter and issue editor of The Daily Texan.

From 1941-47 Wells was Texas Press Association’s executive secretary and from 1943-47 he edited the Texas Press Messenger.

His cousin, J. Claude, hired him at the Leader in 1924 and sold him a half-interest. They bought the Memphis Democrat in 1925, but in 1929 Wells sold J. Claude his half, and bought out J. Claude on the Leader.

Wells married Marian Atkins and they had a daughter. Marian was active in the newspaper office until her death in 1946. Later Wells married Louise Willis. They had a son.

In 1952 Wells went on the NATO maneuvers in the North Sea as correspondent for the Leader and the Amarillo News.

He was president of Panhandle Press Association in 1928-29.