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Obituaries published in the July 2022 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

JON ROY VANDAGRIFF
WEATHERFORD - Journalist, educator and historian Jon Roy Vandagriff, 87, died May 29.
He was an alumnus of Weatherford High School, Weatherford College, Howard Payne University and the University of North Texas.
Vandagriff had several successful careers, beginning with the newspaper business when he was in high school. The owners of the Weatherford Democrat, Wren and Lyndol Hart, took a special interest in him and taught him the newspaper business from top to bottom, from typesetting to printing, as well as journalism and photography, which remained a passion of his throughout his life. He rose through the ranks at the Democrat until he was named managing editor.
After 16 years in the newspaper business, he became an educator with Tarrant County College for 34 years. He taught photography, journalism and history.
After retiring, he pursued his interest in history, particularly the history of Parker County, its people and its institutions. In 2010 he published “The Story of Parker County, Texas: 1852-1956.” Following that work, he was commissioned to write “Weatherford College; The First 150 Years,” published in 2018. He also pursued his interest in photography throughout his life winning multiple awards for his work.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Dottie Vandagriff, five children, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren and other relatives.
Memorials may be made to the Doss Heritage and Culture Center or to Weatherford College.

BURLE PETTIT
LUBBOCK – Burle Pettit, whose eloquent writing and effective leadership entertained Avalanche-Journal readers and influenced its journalists for more than four decades, died May 29. He was 87.
Pettit joined the newspaper as a sports writer in 1960 and steadily climbed the newsroom’s organizational ladder, becoming managing editor in 1973, executive editor in 1989 and editor in 1995. He retired from that position five years later.
Following retirement, he was named the paper’s editor emeritus with his name appearing on the A-J opinion page masthead. He also continued to write a highly popular column, occasionally turning the writing duties over to his pet dog, Schnopper.
In 2019, a collection of Pettit’s Avalanche-Journal columns was published in the book: “A Boyhood Dream Realized: Half a Century of Texas Culture, One Newspaper Column at a Time.” That same year, he was recognized by the Lubbock chapter of the Association for Women in Communications with the Mary Ann Edwards Outstanding Professional Communicator award.
Pettit was a native of Moran, Texas, and a University of North Texas graduate who went on to serve on that school’s board of regents. He also was a U.S. Army veteran.
At the time of his retirement, he was the only journalist in the state to have served as president of both the Texas Sports Writers Association and the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Association. He was also president of the Football Writers Association of America.
“Burle without question was a community-minded editor, always concerned about making sure our readers were accurately and objectively informed,” said former A-J Publisher P. Scott McKibben. “As a new publisher arriving in Lubbock in 1992, it didn’t take but a few short weeks to know that our newsroom was well-managed.”
Pettit was involved in a number of community organizations through the years, including Monterey Optimist Club, the South Plains Food Bank, the March of Dimes and the Salvation Army. He also served in leadership roles at First Christian Church of Lubbock.
He was preceded death by his wife of 60 years, Clara Frances Hill Pettit.
He is survived by three sons, six grandchildren, six great grandchildren and other relatives.
Services were held June 3 at First Christian Church of Lubbock. Burial followed at the Newman cemetery in southern Fisher County.