Steve Monroe: The vision that helped give Branson a voice

Steve Monroe, right, with son, Dustin (Photo submitted)

Editor’s note: After this story was written, the Globe received the sad news that Steve passed away on August 15. The Globe extends sincere sympathy to Steve’s family. Steve will be deeply missed. He was a visionary, and he will also be remembered for the positive impact he had on the Branson community and for the countless lives he touched elsewhere. Steve’s legacy will live on. Rest in peace, Steve. 

Some people build businesses. Others help shape a community. Steve Monroe did both. Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Steve eventually made Branson, Missouri, his home. He became well known locally as the owner of GB Tours. But his most lasting contribution to Branson came from something entirely different — and something he knew very little about. Newspapers.

When a local paper, The Independent, went out of business, Steve saw a gap in the community. He believed Branson needed a newspaper — not just as a business, but as a voice for the people who lived and worked here. There was only one issue. Steve Monroe had never run a newspaper. He did it anyway.

Trusting his instincts, he launched the Branson Register. It was a bold move. Steve wasn’t a journalist or publisher. He was a businessman who saw a need and believed someone had to step forward to meet it. He understood that Branson was more than a tourist town. It was a community where people lived, worked and raised families. At the same time, he recognized that visitors were also essential to its identity and economy. He believed a newspaper could serve both.

Over time, ownership of the publication passed to Rob Doherty, and the Branson Register eventually became the Branson Globe. Today, the Branson Globe continues the vision Steve Monroe started. A key part of that vision remains simple: The Branson Globe is free. It serves both the residents who call Branson home and the millions of visitors who come each year.

For locals, it offers a connection to their community — covering the people, businesses, events and stories that shape everyday life. For visitors, it provides a window into Branson beyond the shows and attractions, helping them discover the community behind the destination. That dual purpose makes the Branson Globe more than a traditional newspaper. It is a bridge between residents and visitors. And that is part of Steve Monroe’s legacy. When he started the Branson Register, he couldn’t have known how it would evolve — changing names, ownership and growing into a free publication with a wide and lasting reach.

But he knew one thing clearly: Branson needed a newspaper. He believed that strongly enough to take a chance in an industry he knew nothing about. That kind of vision is rare. He saw a need, took a risk and created something that has outlived his original involvement.

Today, the Branson Globe continues to thrive. It remains free and continues to serve both residents and visitors in a community shaped by both. The ownership has changed. The name has changed. But the purpose has not. It all began with a man from Wichita named Steve Monroe, who saw a need in Branson and chose to act on it. He wasn’t a newspaper man. He was a man who believed in Branson. And because of that belief, Branson still has a newspaper that tells its story — to the people who live here and to the people who come here to experience it. That is a legacy worth remembering. Steve Monroe didn’t just start a newspaper. He helped give Branson a voice that still speaks today.