Former Publisher of South Arkansas Accent dies at 76

Alan Eugene Goolsby, former publisher and co-owner of the South Arkansas Accent in Hampton, died May 24, 2023 after 11 days in hospice care. He was 76.

A 1964 graduate of Sheridan High School, Goolsby bought the South Arkansas Accent, formerly known as the Calhoun Herald and precursor of today’s South Arkansas Sun, from a bankruptcy court in July 1973 after spending the three weeks prior with the editor and owner of the Sheridan Headlight learning the trade, machines and equipment. He then moved his wife and two young children to Hampton to become the new publisher and editor. Goolsby was successful at the paper and added a print shop, learning yet an additional trade.

Goolsby was a jack-of-all-trades. In addition to the newspaper, he also worked at Lockheed-Martin for 25 years, worked at K-Mart as an Assistant Manager and at Goolsby & Son Contractor as a carpenter, served as Assistant Curator at the Grant County Museum, was a Volunteer Fireman for 27 years and was Jaycee of the Year in 1977.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Macon and Opal Witherington Goolsby, his brother Gary Goolsby and sister Gloria Purifoy. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janette Dortch Goolsby of Hampton, daughter Amy (Butch) Works of Camden, sons Shaw Goolsby of Charleston, South Carolina and Drake (Melanie) Goolsby of Plano, Texas, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The Celebration of Life services were May 29.