Biography of Lynn William Bloom, Lakeland, Polk County, FL

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Transcribed from:  The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. 
III, page 151, 1923.

BLOOM, LYNN WILLIAM, manager and editor of the Lakeland Star-Telegram, took up journalism 
as his profession in his native state of Kansas, and was identified with the management and 
ownership of several newspapers in that state before coming to Florida.

Mr. BLOOM was born at Edna in Labette County, Kansas, February 26, 1882.  He had a liberal 
education as the foundation of his career.  He attended the Labette County High School, and 
in 1906 graduated A. B. from Baker University at Baldwin, Kansas.  During his senior year 
he was manager of the College paper, the Baker Orange.

Mr. BLOOM was also a star athlete in his college days in baseball, football and basket ball, 
making all the university teams, being captain of the baseball team and manager of the basket 
ball team one year each.

After leaving university Mr. BLOOM removed to Topeka, and was associated with the State 
Journal from 1906 to 1909, at first as head of the classified department and then as assistant 
business manager. In 1909 he bought a half interest in the Blade Empire of Concordia Kansas, 
and remained there seven years.

Selling out his interest in Kansas in 1916, Mr. BLOOM came to Lakeland.  For two years he 
was manager of the Lakeland Morning Star, and in 1918 he bought that paper and was owner, 
editor and publisher until the Morning Star and the Evening Telegram were consolidated 
September 1, 1922.  He is now general manager of the new paper the Lakeland Star-Telegram.

Mr. BLOOM's entry into Florida journalism was not so favorably received by the politicians 
because of his plain, outspoken manner in the columns of his paper and a general war he made 
upon machine politics.  He held onto that western manner of saying what he thought regardless 
of where it fell and stood by principles which he believed right in a method that was at 
first classed by some as fanatical.  However, his clear cut policy and continued straight-
forward, consistent program through the years has almost completely won public sentiment on 
his side and proved to the people generally that his fight for a cleaner government and equal 
tax adjustment for the people of Lakeland and Polk County, was without a doubt correct and 
the only course that should have been adopted originally.

Though not eligible for army service, Mr. BLOOM made several attempts to get accepted for 
the tank corps officers training school.  Failing in this he joined the Y. M. C. A. under 
the War Council, and was stationed at Camp Greene, North Carolina.  He had his overseas 
papers when the armistice was signed.  While at Camp Greene he was editor of the camp paper.

Mr. BLOOM is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Kappa Sigma College fraternity.  
February 9, 1909, he married Miss GRACE MARY BEARD.  They have one son, THOMAS RUSSELL BLOOM.

Mr. BLOOM is a booster for his county and city, a member of the Kiwanis club and takes a 
general interest in all civic affairs.