Independent (New Mexico newspaper)

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Gallup Independent | motto = "The Truth Well Told" | image = File:GallupIndependent-01-31-2020.png | type = Daily newspaper | founded = 1911 | language = English | ceased_publication = January 2026 | price = | owners = Gallup Independent Co. | key_people = | focus = | founder = W.H. Hanns | publisher = Bob Zollinger | managing_editor = Christina Tsosie | circulation = 5,000 | headquarters = 500 N. 9th Street<br>Gallup, New Mexico | ISSN = | website = {{URL|gallupindependent.com}} }}

'''''Independent''''', formerly '''''The Gallup Independent,''''' was a daily newspaper published in Gallup, New Mexico, from 1911 to 2026.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Independent (Gallup, N.M.) 1964-Current|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/sn90057269/|website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA|access-date=2026-01-31}}</ref>

==History==

In 1911, W.H. Hanns published the first edition of the weekly ''Gallup Independent'' in Gallup, New Mexico.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 30, 1911 |title=New Paper at Gallup |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican |pages=2}}</ref> In 1914, the paper was sued for libel by two Republican candidates running for the state house, each seeking $5,000 in damages.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 30, 1914 |title=Gallup Editor Sued For Libel By Candidates |work=Albuquerque Journal |pages=3}}</ref> A judge dismissed the case, but award the plaintiffs $5 to cover legal costs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 18, 1914 |title=Libel Suit Against Editor of Gallup Independent is Dismissed; Civil Docked Unusally Long. |work=Albuquerque Journal |pages=3}}</ref> In 1915, Hanns leased a printing plant and began publishing the ''Carbon City News,'' a successor to the ''McKinley County Republican''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 20, 1915 |title=Hanns Takes Over Carbon City News |work=The Albuquerque Tribune |pages=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 28, 1915 |title=Gallup "Independent" To Issue The "News" |work=The Albuquerque Tribune |pages=6}}</ref>

In 1922, Hanns was arrested and jailed after being charged with criminal libel.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 22, 1922 |title=Editor Of A Paper At Gallup Arrested On Charge Of Libel |work=Albuquerque Journal |pages=16}}</ref> This was in relation to an article Hanns published allegedly two on-duty soldiers sexually assaulted a woman. Hanns was released on bond,<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 20, 1992 |title=Editor Jailed; To face Criminal Libel Charge |work=The Fresno Morning Republican |pages=21}}</ref> paid for by George Byers, rival publisher of the ''Gallup Herald''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 1, 1922 |title=Notice |work=The Coconino Sun |pages=4}}</ref> In 1923, W.V. Bahmer purchased a control interest in the business and folded the ''News'' while the ''Independent'' became a semi-weekly.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 26, 1923 |title=Gallup Printers Files Articles |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican |pages=6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 7, 1923 |title=Sunshine State News in Brief |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican |pages=4}}</ref>

In 1924, Ed. M. Vesslle was hired as manager.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 8, 1924 |title=Vasselle Takes Over Management Of The Gallup Independent |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican |pages=4}}</ref> Three years later The Gallup Independent Publishing Co. was charted.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 19, 1927 |title=Galluo Independent Granted Charter |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican |pages=6}}</ref> Vesslle published the paper until 1929, when it was purchased by Frank Farley, Sunday editor at the ''Rocky Mountain News''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 17, 1979 |title=Gallup Newspaper Is Purchased By A Denver Man |work=Albuquerque Journal |pages=2}}</ref> In 1930, Farley bought the ''Alamosa Courier'' and moved back to Colorado to manage it. At that time he handed over the ''Independent'' to managing editor Vincent J. Jaeger while maintaining an interest.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 30, 1930 |title=Galluo Publisher Buys Newspaper In Colorado |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican |pages=2 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

In 1931, Col. Clyde Earl Ely, former owner of the Deming Headlight, sold the ''Gallup Herald'' to the ''Independent'' and it ceased.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 10, 1931 |title=Ely Sells Gallup Herald |work=The Deming Headlight |pages=1}}</ref> The ''Independent'' entered receivership and in 1936 was sold at court-ordered auction to Vincent J. Jaeger and C.M. Carter.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 24, 1936 |title=Approve Sale of Paper {{!}} Vincent J. Jaeger, C.M. Carter to Publish |work=The Gallup Independent |pages=1}}</ref> In 1939, A.W. Barnes bought the paper from the two.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 6, 1939 |title=New Publisher Takes Charge Of Gallup Independent Today |work=The Gallup Independent |pages=1}}</ref> In 1952, Barnes sold the paper to Lincoln O'Brien, owner of the ''Las Vegas Optic'', ''Tucumcari Daily News'', and ''Farmington Daily Times''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 20, 1952 |title=Gallup Newspaper Sold |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican |pages=8}}</ref> A month later the New Mexico Press Association, which Barnes was elected president of twice, awarded him honorary lifetime membership.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 31, 1952 |title=Ex-Independent Publisher Honored |work=The Gallup Independent |pages=4}}</ref>

In 1955, Wallace Leach bought the majority stock in the ''Independent'' and became publisher. He joined O'Brien as co-owner.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 29, 1955 |title=Wallace Leach Buys Stock In Independent {{!}} Moves to Gallup |work=The Gallup Independent |pages=1}}</ref> In 1958, the ''Independent'' purchased a warehouse from the Gallup Oil Company.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 29, 1958 |title=Independent Buys New Warehouse |work=The Gallup Independent |pages=1}}</ref> That same year, Wallace exited the business.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 31, 1958 |title=Gallup Newspaper Publisher Resigns |work=Albuquerque Journal |pages=28 |agency=United Press International}}</ref> In 1964, Lincoln O'Brien sold the paper to John K. Zollinger.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 2, 1964 |title=O'Brien Sells Gallup Paper |work=The Albuquerque Tribune |pages=47 |agency=United Press International}}</ref> In 1968, Zollinger's only daughter died at age 15 after collapsing during gym class.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 30, 1968 |title=Gallup High Girl Collapses, Dies After Exercises |work=The Albuquerque Tribune |pages=7 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In 1984, the ''Independent'' announced plans to construct a $1.38 million printing plant.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 26, 1984 |title=New plant planned |work=The Deming Headlight |pages=3 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Around that time, Zollinger handed over the day-to-day operations to his son, Robert "Bob" Zollinger, and was involved in the ''Independent'' until 2007 when died.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 18, 2007 |title=John K. Zollinger {{!}} Owner Active At Paper Until Death |work=Albuquerque Journal |pages=18 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In January 2026, publisher Bob Zollinger announced the paper will cease publication after failed attempts to sell it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gallup Independent shutting down after almost a century of reporting|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/news/gallup-independent-shutting-down-after-almost-a-century-of-reporting/2971811|website=Albuquerque Journal|date=January 30, 2026|access-date=2026-01-31|language=en-US|first=Matthew|last=Reisen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='Shutting it down': Gallup newspaper will publish final edition Saturday|url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/business/shutting-it-down-gallup-newspaper-will-publish-final-edition-saturday/article_05d7cc24-224f-4690-99e7-79214494816f.html|website=Santa Fe New Mexican|date=January 30, 2026|access-date=2026-01-31|language=en|first=Mike|last=Easterling}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lohmann |first=Patrick |date=February 2, 2016 |title=NM news desert grows with closure of longtime Gallup newspaper • Source New Mexico |url=https://sourcenm.com/briefs/nm-news-desert-grows-with-closure-of-longtime-gallup-newspaper/ |access-date=2026-05-04 |website=Source New Mexico |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Bob Zollinger Lawsuits ==

=== "Mexican Mafia" === In May 1987, Gallup city councilman Harry Mendoza sued the ''Independent'' for defamation, and sought $1 million in damages. The lawsuit was in response to an opinion column publisher in the paper that claimed the city council had been taken over by the "Mexican Mafia." Three of the five city council members were Hispanic at that time. The paper claimed the term was intended to be satirical and humorous.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 12, 1987 |title=Politician Sues Gallup Newspaper for $1 Million |work=Albuquerque Journal |pages=15}}</ref> The paper asked the courts for the lawsuit to be dismissed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 13, 1987 |title=Gallup Independent {{!}} Newspaper asks lawsuit be dismissed |work=The Albuquerque Tribune |pages=3}}</ref> In August 1988, an appeals court dismissed Mendoza's libel suit.'''<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 18, 1988 |title=Court Kills Newspaper Libel Suit |work=Albuquerque Journal |pages=47 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>'''

=== Public records === In October 1987, Bob Zollinger sued the City of Gallup in an attempt to obtain information from public utility records. This followed after the city council voted 3-2 twice not to release records related to its electric utility and its water and sanitation departments.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 13, 1987 |title=Newspaper Sues City In Records Controversy |work=Carlsbad Current-Argus |pages=3 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> A month later a judge ordered the city to release its utility records, including its mailing list and payment records.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 24, 1987 |title=State Judge Orders Public Disclosure Of Gallup Records |work=Albuquerque Journal |pages=19}}</ref>

=== Shirley court coverage === In May 1991, a prosecuting attorney request a restraining order to bar the ''Independent'' from publishing stories about the upcoming drunk-driving trail of state Rep. Albert Shirley. This was after a mistrial was declared when an unbiased jury could not be found. Publisher Bob Zollinger said he would not abided by that order if it were implement by a judge.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 23, 1991 |title=State says news coverage hampers jury selection |work=The Deming Headlight |pages=4 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

=== Mendoza rape articles === On June 24, 2009, ''Independent'' published an article revealing that Gallup mayor Harry Mendoza had been charged in a gang rape in 1948. Mendoza and his family said they knew nothing of the charges, and the case had never gone to court. In 2011, Mendoza sued the ''Independent'' for false light and in July 2012 a district court judge ruled in the newspaper's favor after a jury failed to reach a verdict.<ref>N.M. 11th judicial Court records.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gallupindependent.com/2009/06June/062409rapecharge.html|title=Rape charge still active {{!}} Mendoza says he, family were unaware of charges|last=Donovan|first=Bill|date=June 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928080438/http://www.gallupindependent.com/2009/06June/062409rapecharge.html|archive-date=September 28, 2011|access-date=January 31, 2026|url-status=dead|work=Gallup Independent}}</ref>

On January 6, 2010, ''Independent'' publisher Bob Zollinger and Mendoza got into an altercation in the parking lot of a bank. Bob Zollinger told a local television station that he never threw a punch and was attacked by Mendoza, who was upset about the publication of articles linking the mayor to a gang rape 60 years ago.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gallup Mayor In Fist Fight With Newspaper Publisher|url=https://www.koat.com/article/gallup-mayor-in-fist-fight-with-newspaper-publisher/5032118|website=KOAT|date=January 7, 2010|access-date=2026-01-31|language=en}}</ref> On July 20, 2010, Mendoza pleaded no contest to a charge of voluntarily engaging in a fight in a public place. This was a lesser charge than the original misdemeanor assault and battery charges that the mayor had faced.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Mexico mayor enters no contest plea in case involving fistfight with newspaper publisher|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-mexico-mayor-enters-no-contest-plea-in-case-involving-fistfight-with-newspaper-publisher|website=Fox News|date=July 20, 2010|access-date=2026-01-31|language=en-US|first=|last=|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://gallupindependent.com}} {{Gallup, New Mexico}} Category:Newspapers published in New Mexico Category:Gallup, New Mexico Category:Newspapers established in 1911 Category:1911 establishments in New Mexico Territory