Maurice Endwright began his newspaper career at the age of 10, delivering The Indianapolis Star in Ellettsville. In 1939 he co-founded The Ellettsville Journal. During his 32 years as publisher of The Journal, he won several honors for news and feature stories, including awards from the Hoosier State Press Association. He also had a daily radio program over Bloomington radio station WTTS for 25 years and was co-publisher of The Spencer Evening World for 10 years.
In 1973, Endwright was appointed executive director of the Indiana Commission on the Aging and Aged. Under his leadership, Indiana was the first state in the nation to complete the organization of the area agencies. He organized the nutrition programs which provide meals for the elderly across the state as well as transportation, health and home care, and information and referral. Endwright was one of the founders of the Monroe County Fall Festival, earning the title of “Mr. Fall Festival.” He was president of the Ellettsville Centennial Association in 1937, and honorary president of the Sesquicentennial Association in 1987.The Endwright Center, a program of the Area 10 Agency on Aging, was named in his honor. He received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award twice.