Dr. Frank F. Buckley left a lasting mark on Mississippi journalism as a newspaperman, publisher and educator whose career combined practical newspaper experience with a commitment to preparing future generations for the profession.
Remarkably well educated, Buckley earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana College, a law degree from Vanderbilt University, a master’s degree from Florida State University and a doctorate from Southern Illinois University.
Early in his career, Buckley worked as a newspaper reporter, photographer and editor before his career was interrupted by World War II. During the war, he served as an ensign in the U.S. Navy.
In 1954, Buckley became head of the journalism department at the University of Southern Mississippi, a position he held until 1963. During his tenure, he made significant contributions to journalism education and left a lasting impression on students who went on to distinguished careers in the profession.
As department head, Buckley acquired a printing press for The Student Printz, making Southern Miss the first university in the nation to operate its own printing facility and giving students firsthand experience in all aspects of newspaper production.
Buckley’s tenure at Southern Miss also demonstrated his commitment to journalistic independence. He was removed from his position as department head after unsuccessfully fighting university officials’ efforts to confiscate an edition of The Student Printz that published a photograph of an African American student who had attempted to gain admission to the then-segregated university.
In the late 1960s, Buckley founded Buckley Newspapers, which published several weekly newspapers in south Mississippi, including the Jasper County News and the Smith County Reformer. His work as a community newspaper publisher continued a career devoted to the practical application of the journalistic principles he had taught in the classroom.
Buckley later returned to journalism education, serving as chairman of the journalism department at Southwest Texas State University from 1967 until 1973. Throughout his academic career, he brought to the classroom the perspective of a working journalist and publisher and helped prepare students for careers in newspapers and other areas of mass communication.
Whether reporting and editing the news, publishing community newspapers or educating aspiring journalists, Buckley demonstrated a lifelong commitment to the profession. His career bridged the newsroom and the classroom and reflected his belief in the importance of journalistic independence, practical experience and a strong community press.
Dr. Frank F. Buckley was inducted into the Mississippi Press Association Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2010, he was posthumously inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi School of Mass Communication and Journalism Hall of Fame, further recognizing a career that influenced Mississippi journalism and generations of students who entered the profession.
