Alfred Horatio Belo

Alfred Horatio Belo (May 1839 – April 19, 1901) was the founder of The Dallas Morning News newspaper in Dallas, Texas, along with business partner George Bannerman Dealey. The company A. H. Belo Corporation, owner of The Dallas Morning News, was named in his honor.

Alfred Horatio Belo
BornMay 1839
Salem, North Carolina
DiedApril 19, 1901 (aged 61)
Asheville, North Carolina
Place of burial
Salem Cemetery, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Allegiance Confederate States of America
Service/branch Confederate States Army
Years of service1861–65
Rank Colonel
Commands held 55th North Carolina
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Other workFounder of The Dallas Morning News

Early life

Belo was born in Salem, North Carolina, in May 1839. He was highly educated from an early age.

During the American Civil War, Belo fought for the Confederacy. He was an officer in the Confederate States Army and commanded the 55th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. He was wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg and then again in the Battle of Cold Harbor.[1]

Belo's beginnings in business

At the end of the Civil War, Belo moved to the Houston area in search of job opportunities. He met newswriter Willard Richardson, who published the Galveston Daily News and the Texas Almanac (1857). This company was known as The News. Belo's intelligence led Richardson to ask him to become a partner, and the company was renamed Richardson, Belo, & Co. After Richardson's death, Belo became the sole owner, and renamed the company A. H. Belo & Co. in 1881.

Belo incorporated the newly invented telephone by successfully linking his home to the Galveston Daily News. The newspaper was recognized for taking advantage of the latest printing technology available at the time.

The Dallas Morning News
Main article: The Dallas Morning News

In 1885, Belo sent George Bannerman Dealey to Dallas to help establish a sister newspaper in that city. Dealey had been working his way up in the company since 1874, and Belo had confidence in him. He was given the title of business manager to oversee the creation of the newspaper (which formed the first newspaper chain.) The first edition was printed October 1, 1885. The building where the newspaper was headquartered made use of the city's first commercial electric lights.

The Alfred Horatio Belo Mansion in Dallas, Texas.

Personal life

Belo married Nettie Ennis.[2] They had a son, Alfred Horatio Belo, Jr., who married Helen Ponder, and a daughter, Jeannette Belo, who married Dr. Charles Peabody.[2] They built the Alfred Horatio Belo House in Dallas, Texas, one year before he died.[2]

Death

Belo died on April 19, 1901, in his family's summer home in Asheville, North Carolina. Belo had never fully recovered from his battle wounds and sought comfort and relief many months out of the year outside of Texas.

References
  1. Segura, Judith Garrett. "Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame inductees 2007". Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  2. "A History of the Belo Mansion & Dallas Bar Association". Dallas Bar Association. Retrieved October 11, 2015.


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