Who was L.B. White?
Above image courtesy of the Saline County History and Heritage Society.
By Cody Berry
L.B. White was a very important figure in modern Saline County history. He was a longtime newspaperman who owned The Benton Courier for a long time. The following facts come mostly from his obituary in the Arkansas Gazette in March 1957. Lowell Bartow White was born November 10, 1872, in Denver, Colorado to Thomas Benton White and Lois Alice Walker White. White’s career in journalism began when he was just 14 because his father owned a newspaper in Warsaw, Missouri. White purchased The Times-Courier in around 1906 and changed its name to The Benton Courier. Circulation increased from 500 to 5,500 copies, and its new masthead was done by local artist Jim Alley.1
L.B. White served as postmaster in Benton from 1913-1920. In 1918, White was elected president of the Arkansas Press Association. White also served as Mayor of Benton from 1922-1929 and from 1932-1937. L.B. White served as a Saline County representative from 1925-1927. White served on the Board of Control of the State Hospital for six years and as secretary of the Saline County Democratic Committee for 40 years. White promoted the first Saline County Fair, serving as the Fair Association’s secretary then president. White also organized the Benton-Bauxite Rotary Club.2
During WWI, White was chairman of the Saline County Selective Service Board and chairman of both the Liberty Bond Loan Committee. White was chairman of the County Savings Bond Committee during WWII.3 The Benton Courier was sold to WWII veteran Sam Hodges in 1953.4 L.B. White died on March 24, 1957. He rests at Old Rosemont Cemetery.5
At the Gann Museum, we have a photograph of L. B. White and an issue of the Benton Courier from 1925 whose front page features an article about a historic marker dedication at Jenkins Ferry Battlefield. Standing with it is an old Civil War sword and a set of bullets that were found buried at Jenkins Ferry by a local doctor.
Citations:
1 “Lowell White, Ex-publisher, Dies at 84,” Arkansas Gazette, March 25, 1957, p. 6: “Lowell Bartow White (1872-1957),” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37676427/lowell_bartow-white, Date Accessed 2/4/2026.
2 “City of Benton Mayors,” Plaque at Gann Museum, “Lowell White, Ex-publisher, Dies at 84,” Arkansas Gazette, March 25, 1957, p. 6; “Lowell White, Ex-publisher, Dies at 84,” Arkansas Gazette, March 25, 1957, p. 6
3 Ibid (Same as 1 and 2)
4 Ruebel Funeral Home, “Samuel Major Hodges,” https://www.ruebelfuneralhome.com/archivedobits/2005/Hodges,%20Samuel.htm, Date Accessed 1/14/2026.
5 “Lowell White, Ex-publisher, Dies at 84,” Arkansas Gazette, March 25, 1957, p. 6, “Lowell Bartow White (1872-1957),” findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37676427/lowell_bartow-white, Date Accessed 2/4/2026.