Lawrence W. Hager was the founder and chairman of the boards of Owensboro Publishing Co. and Owensboro Broadcasting Co. He moved to Owensboro in 1910 after receiving a Master of Arts from Centre College at age 20. Over the next 70 years, education, health, transportation, politics, charity and civic groups were influenced by Hager and the newspaper he headed. Hager founded the Goodfellows Club, which has provided Christmas parties for thousands of underprivileged children since 1916. He is active in state Democratic politics. Hager consolidated Owensboro's two newspapers in 1929 and started WOMI, city's first radio station. His first newspaper job was as a reporter for Frankfort State Journal. He became President of the Kentucky Press Association in 1933 and received the association's award for "community service through journalism," in 1970. Hager helped establish Owensboro-Daviess County Chamber of Commerce and Owensboro Rotary Club. He holds an honorary degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College.