LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of
the ROME SENTINEL newspaper company

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those illustrious local journalistic entities which have endured,
recording the history of their communities, highlighting local news, and
bringing news of the larger world to their readers; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly pleased to commem-
orate the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the ROME SENTINEL newspaper
company; and
WHEREAS, The ROME SENTINEL has been owned by the same family since
1864, proudly providing news and information to Rome and Oneida County,
and contributing significantly to the economic and social well-being of
its community; and
WHEREAS, In June 1864, Augustus C. Kessinger, at the age of 22, bought
out Charles W. Warren, who had partnered with Franklin Beers in 1863 to
buy the ROME SENTINEL newspaper company, establishing a partnership that
would turn into a family dynasty; and
WHEREAS, This visionary young man had arrived in Rome, New York, in
1852 from Rugen, the largest island in Germany, along with his father
Ernst, a church painter, his mother, Louise, an accomplished musician,
and his brother, Albert; their intention was to travel on to Michigan;
and
WHEREAS, Augustus C. Kessinger started an apprenticeship at the ROME
SENTINEL newspaper on March 17, 1856, at the age of 14 for $20 a year
and board; and
WHEREAS, From this humble beginning, Augustus C. Kessinger emerged not
only as a publisher but also as a philanthropist and community leader;
he was instrumental in the founding of what was then called the School
for the Deaf; and
WHEREAS, The ROME SENTINEL was a weekly newspaper until 1881 when a
daily edition began to be published; a semi-weekly was also published,
ending in 1925; and
WHEREAS, Franklin Beers died in 1915, leaving the ROME SENTINEL news-
paper company in the hands of the Kessinger family; and
WHEREAS, Albert Remington Kessinger took over when Augustus C.
Kessinger passed away in June 1928; emulating his father's tradition of
civic engagement, by that time he had helped to create Rome's water
supply, had served as mayor and postmaster, and had run for the United
States Congress; and
WHEREAS, Upon Albert Remington Kessinger's death in 1941, responsibil-
ity for the SENTINEL fell to his daughter, Margaret, and her husband
Bradley C. Barnard, who became the third family member to become
publisher; he was a driving force behind funding RFA Stadium, creating
the Rome Industrial Development Corporation, and starting the company's
radio stations, WRUN-AM and WRUN-FM; and
WHEREAS, In the fourth generation, Shirley Barnard's husband George B.
Waters succeeded his father-in-law as president and publisher; he helped
develop classified advertising at the newspaper, and also invested in
the community, expanding Jervis Library, Rome Hospital, Strough School,
and creating the West Rome Industrial Park; in a commitment to downtown
Rome, the SENTINEL built its 1971 building at 333 W. Dominick Street;
and
WHEREAS, Their son, Stephen Waters, became the fifth family publisher
in 1993; he had returned to the newspaper in 1974 to oversee the nascent

computer revolution that brought pagination and web pages to newspapers,
and continues as publisher to this day; and
WHEREAS, With the guidance of future sixth generation leader, son Brad
Waters, the ROME SENTINEL newspaper company is positioning itself for
the future with new systems designed for the complex and rapidly chang-
ing needs of 21st century news media; and
WHEREAS, The ROME SENTINEL newspaper company has reached the impres-
sive milestone of 150 years through its extraordinary capacity to grow
with the technological advances of the time while remaining true to its
local roots, providing exemplary service to its readers and advertisers,
and giving back abundantly to its community; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the ROME SENTINEL newspaper company on its extraordinary
Sesquicentennial Anniversary, and to wish it continued success in the
future; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Stephen Waters, Publisher of the ROME SENTINEL, representing
the Waters family.