When Words Matter, Ltd., is an editorial services company specializing in preserving personal, business and organizational histories. It is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and is owned and operated by Larry Lehmer, a veteran newspaper reporter and editor and published author.

Larry has over 30 years of writing experience, including 24 years as a senior editor, reporter and newsroom manager at the prestigious Des Moines Register, winner of 15 Pulitzer Prizes, the top award in journalism. During Larry’s time at The Register, the paper was named one of the country’s top 10 newspapers by Time magazine.

During his newspaper career, Larry was a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters & Editors. He is a graduate of the American Press Institute in Washington, D.C.

Larry is also the author of The Day the Music Died: The Last Tour of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens (Schirmer Books), which was nominated for the Gleason Music Book Award. As a result of the book’s success, he worked with the E! cable television network in producing an episode of its Mysteries and Scandals series and was a contributor to a VH1 documentary on Buddy Holly.