Groesbeck had other newspapers prior to the Journal but none of them lasted for a very long length of time. These earlier newspapers in Groesbeck were the Groesbeck Enterprise, Groesbeck Herald, and the Groesbeck Clarion. The Limestone County New Era was a well-established newspaper in Groesbeck when the Journal was founded with the editor and owner being Layfette Lumpkin Foster. Governor Stephen
Hogg appointed Foster as a member of the first Texas Railroad Commission. Foster later became president of Texas A&M College (now University). A historical marker in honor of Layfette Lumpkin Foster stands on the grounds of the Limestone County Courthouse. Other editors and publishers of the Journal were Henry Ellis, B. Lawley, and Ira W. In January or February of 1930, Jack R. Hawkins bought the Journal and was the editor-published from 1930 to his death on April 1, 1988. The Journal remained in the Hawkins family. Thomas E. (Tom) Hawkins served as editor-publisher until the Journal was sold to Moser Publishing on January 31, 2014. Jack Hawkins was ably assisted in operating the Journal all of those years by his wife, Euleta Ruth Sharp Hawkins. A Limestone County native, Mrs. Hawkins assistant county school superintendent of Limestone County at the time of her marriage. Both Thornton and Kosse had their own newspaper at one time. However, during World War II with supplies and help hard to come by, the Journal took over, The Thornton Hustler and the Kosse Cyclone. Both the Thornton Hustler and the Kosse Cyclone have had their own pages in the Journal for many years. Over the years that the Hawkins family owned the Journal, the newspaper was blessed to have many outstanding employees. No story about the Journal under the ownership of the Hawkins family would be complete without naming Jack Franklin and his wife, Nelta Mae, and Leroy Lenamon. Each of these individuals were devoted to their duties at the Journal and were employed at the newspaper for many years. The Journal has always been fortunate to have numerous other faithful and devoted employees over the years. The Journal is currently published weekly and managed by Limestone County Publishing, the current editor and general manager is Jennifer Paul.
