History with ‘Hud’: How a deaf newspaper reporter left mark still seen in Southport

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — Starting a newspaper from scratch is a major undertaking. Beginning one when you can’t hear the people you’re interviewing for articles seems almost impossible. But W.B. Keziah did just that in the early 1900s, kicking off a publication still read each week by local residents.

Keziah was a deaf reporter working for ‘The News Reporter’ in Whiteville in 1928 when he decided to move more than 60 miles east to the coast and break out on his own with a new paper – ‘The State Port Pilot’.

The fresh publication was initially printed in Whiteville on the same printing press which produced ‘The News Reporter’ and trucked into Southport each day. But a few years into the endeavor, Keziah could no longer make the payments for the printing service, and the owners of ‘The News Reporter’ took over the reins of ‘The State Port Pilot’.

They hired a new editor, but re-hired Keziah as a reporter instead of the main business owner, in hopes this would turn out better for all parties.

But Keziah was shortly reappointed as editor when the new editor was sent overseas with the Navy to take part in World War Two. Keziah pulled dual duty by also being a reporter for the paper, despite being completely deaf. He conducted all of his interviews through sign language and a paper tablet he carried with him everywhere.

Keziah produced a regular column called ‘Our Roving Reporter’, including everything from dignitary visits, gossip and local history. Through his venture, Keziah also taught numerous people in the area a bit of sign language.

He continued to work for the newspaper until his death in 1957.

During the 1950s and 1960s, ‘The State Port Pilot’ was a few person operation. It has grown to a 70-page paper with a circulation of more than 10,000 today, with a staff of more than a dozen people. The paper is published each Wednesday and covers the surrounding Brunswick County communities.

The present 6,000 square foot office on Moore Street has also grown in size, dwarfing the white frame structure next door where the paper was once produced.

While many people think newspapers are a thing of the past, ‘The State Port Pilot’ has stood the test of time and continues the legacy of its founder, who overcame obstacles to achieve his goal.

Meteorologist Matthew Huddleston (‘Hud’) has always had two major loves – weather and history. While you can watch him talk about weather each morning on WWAY, he looks forward to bringing you a little piece of history each Thursday on WWAY’s website.

To read other History with ‘Hud’ segments, click HERE.