Ben and Elizabeth “Libba” George, former publishers of The Demopolis Times, were inducted into the Alabama Newspaper Hall of Honor Saturday.

The Georges were the first husband-wife team inducted into the Hall of Honor at the same time. The couple published The Demopolis Times from 1936 to 1967, though the paper had been in Libba’s family for many years.

Libba George’s father, Edward S. Cornish, and her brother, George A. Cornish, were inducted into the Hall of Honor in 1968 and 1994, respectively.

Ben George started work at the paper in 1930, and became publisher in 1936. He served as president of the Alabama Press Association in 1956. He was active in the Demopolis community serving as president of the Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the Demopolis City Board of Education.

Libba worked at the paper for more than five decades, and was also active in community affairs. She was president of the Demopolis PTA, was a Sunday School teacher at the First Methodist Church for more than 60 years, and was a volunteer tutor for the dyslexia program.

She was named Outstanding Citizen in Demopolis in 1980, nominated for Alabama Mother of the Year, and was honored by the Alabama Department of Human Resources for founding the faith-based “Bargain Box,” a household goods and clothing service. The Georges remained active in APA, attending conventions for more than 20 years after they sold the paper in 1967.

The ceremony honoring the Georges was held Oct. 2 at Auburn University.