Independent, formerly The Gallup Independent, was a daily newspaper published in Gallup, New Mexico, from 1911 to 2026.[1]
| "The Truth Well Told" | |
 | |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner | Gallup Independent Co. |
| Founder | W.H. Hanns |
| Publisher | Bob Zollinger |
Managing editor | Christina Tsosie |
| Founded | 1911 |
Ceased publication | January 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | 500 N. 9th Street Gallup, New Mexico |
| Circulation | 5,000 |
| Website | gallupindependent |
History
editIn 1911, W.H. Hanns published the first edition of the weekly Gallup Independent in Gallup, New Mexico.[2] In 1914, the paper was sued for libel by two Republican candidates running for the state house, each seeking $5,000 in damages.[3] A judge dismissed the case, but award the plaintiffs $5 to cover legal costs.[4] In 1915, Hanns leased a printing plant and began publishing the Carbon City News, a successor to the McKinley County Republican.[5][6]
In 1922, Hanns was arrested and jailed after being charged with criminal libel.[7] This was in relation to an article Hanns published allegedly two on-duty soldiers sexually assaulted a woman. Hanns was released on bond,[8] paid for by George Byers, rival publisher of the Gallup Herald.[9] In 1923, W.V. Bahmer purchased a control interest in the business and folded the News while the Independent became a semi-weekly.[10][11]
In 1924, Ed. M. Vesslle was hired as manager.[12] Three years later The Gallup Independent Publishing Co. was charted.[13] Vesslle published the paper until 1929, when it was purchased by Frank Farley, Sunday editor at the Rocky Mountain News.[14] 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.[15]
In 1931, Col. Clyde Earl Ely, former owner of the Deming Headlight, sold the Gallup Herald to the Independent and it ceased.[16] The Independent entered receivership and in 1936 was sold at court-ordered auction to Vincent J. Jaeger and C.M. Carter.[17] In 1939, A.W. Barnes bought the paper from the two.[18] In 1952, Barnes sold the paper to Lincoln O'Brien, owner of the Las Vegas Optic, Tucumcari Daily News, and Farmington Daily Times.[19] A month later the New Mexico Press Association, which Barnes was elected president of twice, awarded him honorary lifetime membership.[20]
In 1955, Wallace Leach bought the majority stock in the Independent and became publisher. He joined O'Brien as co-owner.[21] In 1958, the Independent purchased a warehouse from the Gallup Oil Company.[22] That same year, Wallace exited the business.[23] In 1964, Lincoln O'Brien sold the paper to John K. Zollinger.[24] In 1968, Zollinger's only daughter died at age 15 after collapsing during gym class.[25] In 1984, the Independent announced plans to construct a $1.38 million printing plant.[26] 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.[27] In January 2026, publisher Bob Zollinger announced the paper will cease publication after failed attempts to sell it.[28][29][30]
Bob Zollinger Lawsuits
edit"Mexican Mafia"
editIn 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.[31] The paper asked the courts for the lawsuit to be dismissed.[32] In August 1988, an appeals court dismissed Mendoza's libel suit.[33]
Public records
editIn 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.[34] A month later a judge ordered the city to release its utility records, including its mailing list and payment records.[35]
Shirley court coverage
editIn 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.[36]
Mendoza rape articles
editOn 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.[37][38]
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.[39] 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.[40]
References
edit- ↑ "Independent (Gallup, N.M.) 1964-Current". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ↑ "New Paper at Gallup". The Santa Fe New Mexican. October 30, 1911. p. 2.
- ↑ "Gallup Editor Sued For Libel By Candidates". Albuquerque Journal. October 30, 1914. p. 3.
- ↑ "Libel Suit Against Editor of Gallup Independent is Dismissed; Civil Docked Unusally Long". Albuquerque Journal. November 18, 1914. p. 3.
- ↑ "Hanns Takes Over Carbon City News". The Albuquerque Tribune. July 20, 1915. p. 3.
- ↑ "Gallup "Independent" To Issue The "News"". The Albuquerque Tribune. July 28, 1915. p. 6.
- ↑ "Editor Of A Paper At Gallup Arrested On Charge Of Libel". Albuquerque Journal. August 22, 1922. p. 16.
- ↑ "Editor Jailed; To face Criminal Libel Charge". The Fresno Morning Republican. August 20, 1992. p. 21.
- ↑ "Notice". The Coconino Sun. September 1, 1922. p. 4.
- ↑ "Gallup Printers Files Articles". The Santa Fe New Mexican. March 26, 1923. p. 6.
- ↑ "Sunshine State News in Brief". The Santa Fe New Mexican. April 7, 1923. p. 4.
- ↑ "Vasselle Takes Over Management Of The Gallup Independent". The Santa Fe New Mexican. July 8, 1924. p. 4.
- ↑ "Galluo Independent Granted Charter". The Santa Fe New Mexican. August 19, 1927. p. 6.
- ↑ "Gallup Newspaper Is Purchased By A Denver Man". Albuquerque Journal. August 17, 1979. p. 2.
- ↑ "Galluo Publisher Buys Newspaper In Colorado". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Associated Press. June 30, 1930. p. 2.
- ↑ "Ely Sells Gallup Herald". The Deming Headlight. April 10, 1931. p. 1.
- ↑ "Approve Sale of Paper | Vincent J. Jaeger, C.M. Carter to Publish". The Gallup Independent. November 24, 1936. p. 1.
- ↑ "New Publisher Takes Charge Of Gallup Independent Today". The Gallup Independent. March 6, 1939. p. 1.
- ↑ "Gallup Newspaper Sold". The Santa Fe New Mexican. February 20, 1952. p. 8.
- ↑ "Ex-Independent Publisher Honored". The Gallup Independent. March 31, 1952. p. 4.
- ↑ "Wallace Leach Buys Stock In Independent | Moves to Gallup". The Gallup Independent. August 29, 1955. p. 1.
- ↑ "Independent Buys New Warehouse". The Gallup Independent. May 29, 1958. p. 1.
- ↑ "Gallup Newspaper Publisher Resigns". Albuquerque Journal. United Press International. October 31, 1958. p. 28.
- ↑ "O'Brien Sells Gallup Paper". The Albuquerque Tribune. United Press International. January 2, 1964. p. 47.
- ↑ "Gallup High Girl Collapses, Dies After Exercises". The Albuquerque Tribune. Associated Press. April 30, 1968. p. 7.
- ↑ "New plant planned". The Deming Headlight. Associated Press. March 26, 1984. p. 3.
- ↑ "John K. Zollinger | Owner Active At Paper Until Death". Albuquerque Journal. Associated Press. September 18, 2007. p. 18.
- ↑ Reisen, Matthew (January 30, 2026). "Gallup Independent shutting down after almost a century of reporting". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ↑ Easterling, Mike (January 30, 2026). "'Shutting it down': Gallup newspaper will publish final edition Saturday". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ↑ Lohmann, Patrick (February 2, 2016). "NM news desert grows with closure of longtime Gallup newspaper • Source New Mexico". Source New Mexico. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Politician Sues Gallup Newspaper for $1 Million". Albuquerque Journal. May 12, 1987. p. 15.
- ↑ "Gallup Independent | Newspaper asks lawsuit be dismissed". The Albuquerque Tribune. June 13, 1987. p. 3.
- ↑ "Court Kills Newspaper Libel Suit". Albuquerque Journal. Associated Press. August 18, 1988. p. 47.
- ↑ "Newspaper Sues City In Records Controversy". Carlsbad Current-Argus. Associated Press. October 13, 1987. p. 3.
- ↑ "State Judge Orders Public Disclosure Of Gallup Records". Albuquerque Journal. November 24, 1987. p. 19.
- ↑ "State says news coverage hampers jury selection". The Deming Headlight. Associated Press. May 23, 1991. p. 4.
- ↑ N.M. 11th judicial Court records.
- ↑ Donovan, Bill (June 24, 2009). "Rape charge still active | Mendoza says he, family were unaware of charges". Gallup Independent. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ↑ "Gallup Mayor In Fist Fight With Newspaper Publisher". KOAT. January 7, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ↑ "New Mexico mayor enters no contest plea in case involving fistfight with newspaper publisher". Fox News. Associated Press. July 20, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2026.