Lancaster Management, Inc. was established in January of 1987 by the late James D. Lancaster. In 1946, after serving in the Air Force in World War II, James began his newspaper career in Macon, Georgia by answering a classified ad seeking an accountant for General Newspapers, Inc. owned by Charles Marsh and Carmage Walls. In 1951 General Newspapers, Inc. moved from Macon, Georgia to Gadsden, Alabama where James owned 20 percent of this company and was one of the five key individuals connected with the Gadsden Times. He expanded his legal and accounting work over several southeastern and midwestern states, while at the same time becoming familiar with the management of newspapers. Lancaster was an accountant and attorney for Walls who managed companies from the 1940's through the 1970's and was also instrumental in the acquisition of newspaper properties during that time.
Continuing to work with various other newspaper companies and individuals, he served as the attorney for the purchase and sale of more than 300 newspapers throughout the United States. On September 1, 1968, Lancaster sold his interest in the Gadsden Times and acquired Hopewell Publishing Company. July 1, 1968, he acquired The Sea Coast Echo in Bay St. Louis Mississippi with partner Ben M. Smith. On September 1, 1973, Lancaster and the late Ray M. Edwards, Sr. acquired The Murray Ledger & Times, a daily newspaper in Murray, Kentucky. In 1974 the Lancaster Family acquired Smith's interest in The Sea Coast Echo giving them controlling interest. In January 1987, James established Lancaster Management, Inc. (LMI), to focus on the daily management of the Lancaster papers and acquisition of new properties. In April 1992, he sold his interest to his sons Charles W. Lancaster, who is now the sole stockholder in LMI, and James D. Lancaster Jr., who later retired in March of 2002.
In April of 1999 Jeff Selsor joined Lancaster Management, Inc. as Vice President, group manager and Chief Financial Officer. Selsor joined LMI from New York Times Company newspapers where he served as Controller for The Eagle in Marco Island, Florida, The Daily News in Palatka, Florida, The Gadsden Times in Gadsden, Alabama and KFSM-TV, a CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
In April of 2009 son John Lancaster joined LMI and holds the office of Vice President. Presently Charles and John Lancaster are The Family's operating partners. Throughout LMI's twenty different newspaper companies we proudly publish and print approximately twenty-eight newspapers, fourteen shoppers, forty-one print and slick stock magazines and seventy-one niche publications totaling 153 publications that we produce company wide.
In 2020 Lancaster Management launched Think Tank Media, a digital marketing company focusing on internet, mobile app, and OTT advertising.