Wiley W. Spurgeon papers

Wiley W. “Bill” Spurgeon, Jr. (1933-2001) from Muncie, Indiana was the son of Wiley Whitney and Bertha Stetter Spurgeon. He graduated from Burris High School in 1951 and Indiana University in 1955, and made a name for himself as a newspaperman as the editor and publisher of the Syracuse Wawasee Journal while in college. From 1955 to 1966 Spurgeon was a reporter and news editor to the Muncie Star. Following this he was the regional editor for the Minneapolis Tribune, managing editor for the Idaho Daily Statesman, and executive editor for the Eagle in Wichita, Kansas. Wiley Spurgeon was also the president of Muncie Gear Works, a family business, from 1966 to 1971. In 1974 he rejoined the Star Press and became the executive editor of both the Star and the Muncie Evening Press in 1979. After his retirement in 1991, Spurgeon continued to write “Our Neighborhood” columns and book reviews for the Star Press.

As well as being a newsman, Wiley Spurgeon was also a well-known local historian. He was involved with the Indiana Historical Society, and the Delaware County Historical Society. Involved in a number of history projects, Spurgeon authored two books, Muncie and Delaware County Illustrated Retrospectives, and Muncie at the Millennium, and was named the Hoosier Historian of the Year in 2000. Spurgeon was also involved in local organizations such as Muncie Civic Theater and was the president of the Wawasee Property Owners Association for many years.