Victoria Advocate Marks 180 Years of Journalism with Congressional Recognition

Victoria Advocate marks 180 years of journalism with congressional recognition

The Victoria Advocate

Jakob Gurley | August 12th, 2026

The Victoria Advocate is marking 180 years of serving the Crossroads, a milestone recognized by Congressman Michael Cloud with an entry in the Congressional Record honoring the newspaper’s history and contributions to South Texas.

Cloud visited the Advocate on Wednesday to congratulate staff and present a copy of the congressional recognition.

“Really excited to be here, just wanted to stop by and congratulate you all for really carrying on a legacy,” Cloud said. “180 years is pretty remarkable.”

Cloud noted the longevity of the newspaper at a time when many businesses do not survive their first decade.

“You think that most businesses don’t make it to the five-year mark or even the 10-year mark, and so 180 years being in this community, making a difference is pretty remarkable,” Cloud said.

Cloud said the recognition was entered into the Congressional Record to commemorate the Advocate’s anniversary and its role in documenting nearly two centuries of Texas history.

Carpenter Media Group Texas Regional Publisher Justin Wilcox said the recognition reflects the work of generations who have contributed to the newspaper.

“Having Congressman Michael Cloud and the U.S. Congress recognize the Victoria Advocate’s 180th anniversary is an extraordinary honor and a testament to the generations of journalists, employees and community members who have sustained this institution since 1846,” Wilcox said.

“For 180 years, the Advocate has chronicled the triumphs, challenges and everyday stories of the Crossroads,” he added. “This congressional recognition honors not only our history, but also our continued commitment to serving our readers with strong, independent local journalism for generations to come.”

The newspaper traces its beginnings to 1846, when John D. Logan and Thomas Sterne, publishers from Van Buren, Arkansas, established the Texan Advocate as a weekly newspaper. The publication was founded about six months after Texas was annexed by the United States.

During its first year, Texas historian and journalist John Henry Brown briefly served as one of its editors. The newspaper later became known as the Texian Advocate and went through several ownership changes before Sam Addison White purchased it in 1859 and renamed it the Victoria Advocate.

The Advocate expanded alongside Victoria during the latter half of the 19th century. Publisher James McDonald introduced a daily edition in 1897, while George Henry French later led the newspaper for four decades and expanded its reach throughout the region.

In 1942, Morris Roberts and a group of local civic leaders acquired the Advocate. Roberts became its sole owner in 1961 and worked alongside his children, John M. Roberts and Catherine R. McHaney.

The newspaper eventually became part of M. Roberts Media as the company expanded its newspaper holdings and adopted the name in 2015. Carpenter Media Group acquired the Advocate in 2024.

Cloud’s congressional statement recognized generations of Advocate employees who have documented the people, institutions and events shaping Victoria and surrounding communities.

“For nearly as long as Texas has been a state, the Victoria Advocate has remained dedicated to informing the public, holding institutions accountable, preserving local history and celebrating the people who make the Crossroads region unique,” the statement reads.

The recognition also highlighted the Advocate’s longstanding role as a community forum and its continued transition into the digital era while maintaining its focus on local journalism.

Cloud concluded the congressional recognition by congratulating the newspaper’s publishers, editors, reporters, photographers and staff, both past and present, for their work.

“May the Victoria Advocate continue to inform, inspire and serve its community for generations to come,” the statement reads.

Cloud said reaching the 180-year milestone represents a legacy worth recognizing.