Leslie H. Bennett

Leslie H. Bennett, 80, died Jan. 4, 2006, in Paris, Ark., after a stroke.

He worked for the Houston Chronicle for 32 years and was senior editor in charge of the editorial page when he retired in 1990. He also worked at The Galveston Daily News and the defunct New Orleans Item.

Tony Champ Clark

Dr. Tony Champ Clark, 69, died Dec. 14, 2005, in Houston after complications from heart surgery.

Clark began his professional career as a journalist, working as a sports writer and later copy editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in the 1960s. He also taught English from 1971-90 at Paris Junior College. He retired from teaching in 1998.

William H. Ervin

William H. Ervin, 75, died Nov. 24, 2005, at Brooke Army Medical Center.

He was a retired managing editor of the Canyon Lake Times Guardian and a former employee of the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

Sandy Glass

Sandy Glass, 53, died Dec. 8, 2005, from complications resulting from her battle with cancer.

She worked for several different media outlets, including the Slaton Slatonite and Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Her husband, Ray Glass, is a features reporter for the Avalanche-Journal. The city of Lubbock hired Glass in 1995 and named her public information and marketing manager in 2000.

Fauna Hill

Fauna Ruth Long Hill, 88, died Nov. 27, 2005.

She was an editor for the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald, under then publisher, Charles Devall. As a student at University of Texas, she worked part time at the Austin American-Statesman and upon graduation in 1943, she became a full-time staffer at the Statesman.

John Kirkpatrick

John Kirkpatrick, 51, was found dead Dec. 12, 2005, at his Louisville, Ky., apartment.

The medical examiner believes he died of a fall during a seizure, his family said. He had dealt with numerous medical problems for years and was taking medication for seizures.

Kirkpatrick had been a reporter at The Dallas Morning News until October 2004, when he lost his job as a staff writer assigned to the business desk during a reduction in staff. He joined the staff in 1980, left in 1983 and returned in 1986 where his work included serving as editor of the High Profile and Fashion!Dallas sections, before returning to his Dallas roots as a business reporter.

Allan C. McDonald

Allan C. “Bud” McDonald, 66, died at his Iron Station, N.C., home.

He was a longtime outdoors editor of the San Angelo Standard-Times and retired in 1998. McDonald joined the Standard-Times in November 1978 as a part-time writer and editor of Scene. He began full time in November 1979. He worked first as a feature writer. He later became outdoors editor and started the West Texas Outdoors column. He served several terms as president of the Texas Outdoor Writers Association.

Betsy Melenesk

Betsy Ruth “Stone” Melenesk, 75, died Dec. 27, 2005.

In March 1976, she started on a totally new venture, working for the late Joe & Marge Fietsam, owners of the Floresville Chronicle Journal and La Vernia News.

Her daughter Nancy Manka also started working at the News in April 1976 selling ads and providing stories about new businesses developing. Another daughter Sarah Young also worked for the newspaper.

Melenesk purchased the La Vernia News on Oct. 1, 1991, after dreaming of owning it since 1986. She worked hard to keep her hometown of more than 40 years with a community newspaper. Although she was unofficially semi-retired, Melenesk remained the owner until her death.  

Annette Novak

Annette Leonita Novak, 86, of Hallettsville, died Nov. 22, 2005, in Hallettsville Rehab & Nursing Center.

Novak was employed at the family-owned newspaper, The Hallettsville New Era Herald and later at The Hallettsville Tribune-Herald. Her sister, Molly Pesek, reported local news under the byline Molly’s Corner, and Novak continued the column after her sister’s death in 1986 under the byline, Town Chatter.

Elizabeth Rexroat

Elizabeth Clepper “Bettie” Rexroat, 95, died Dec. 13, 2005, in Stephenville. Rexroat worked several years for the Chillicothe Valley News and served as the local correspondent for the Vernon Daily Record, Quanah Tribune Chief, Wichita Falls Times Record News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Doris Varnon

Doris Warren Varnon, 78, died Dec. 3, 2005, in a San Marcos hospital.

Former cofounder/publisher of The Wimberley View with her late husband Beven Varnon, she had long suffered with cancer.

A licensed registered nurse, Varnon and her husband, started the View in

Albert Vaughan

Albert Vaughan, 66, died Nov. 27, 2005, in his Greenville home.

He advanced from newspaper carrier to publisher during his 47-year career at the Greenville Herald-Banner.

While in high school he worked in the mail room putting in inserts and tying bundles. Eventually he was promoted to circulation manager. He retired in 1997.

Donna York

Donna Jean Riddle York, 70, died Nov. 13, 2005, in Mesquite.

From 1976 until December 2003, she was the publisher and editor of The Kerens Tribune, except for a seven-year period when she managed the Tribune for an absentee owner.

In 1979, she was named Woman of the Year by the Malakoff Chapter of American Business Women’s Association.