Newsmakers

Harry T. Darby was named editor and publisher of The Madisonville Meteor. He replaced Hank Hargrave who became editor and publisher of The Navasota Examiner. Darby came from the editor and general manager position at The Democrat Argus in Missouri and has experience at newspapers in Arkansas and Alabama.

The Fredericksburg Publishing Company, Inc. board of directors named Terry Collier publisher and Cathy Collier editor of the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post. Collier succeeds Art Kowert who served as publisher from 1980 until his death in February. Editor of the Standard-Radio Post for the past 23 years, Terry Collier is currently president of the firm’s board as well as president of Hill Country Community Press. He also is a TPA board member.Cathy Collier is a current director for the West Texas Press Association.

Von Dawson is the new sports writer for the Jacksonville Daily Progress. He received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University in 2001.

Mark Engbretsoneditor of the Lake Country Sun had a book of western fiction published, “The Golden Amulet.” The book is available through Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Booksense.com.

George Hajhas joined the Houston Chronicle as assistant managing editor/business. Haj succeeds Scott Clark as the senior manager in the Business section. Clark, a 21-year veteran of the Chronicle, was promoted to editor of HoustonChronicle.com in 2000 and vice president, in 2002. Haj was formerly executive business editor of the Miami Herald.

The Henderson Daily News staff members are the best spellers in Henderson and they have a trophy to prove it. The newspaper won first place in the Rotary Club’s Fifth Annual Bee for Youth Spelling Bee. The staffers beat out Henderson Memorial Hospital by correctly spelling “conciliate” followed by “conquistador.”

The Houston Chronicle signed Houston Texans’ quarterback David Carr to a two-year agreement to serve as an official spokesperson for the newspaper and the Readers are Leaders Foundation. Carr also will write a weekly football column with Chronicle sportswriter Carlton Thompson will be featured in ads and marketing that promotes the newspaper’s products.

Jaime Jordan, a general assignments reporter for The Dallas Morning News, joined The Associated Press staff in Dallas. She succeeds Susan Parrott, who has joined The Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma City. Before the Morning News, Jordan was a general assignments reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Ralph Langer, former editor and executive vice president of The Dallas Morning News, was inducted into the Central Michigan University Journalism Hall of Fame Nov. 7. Langer, who was an undergraduate at CMU from 1955-57, worked for the Morning News from 1981 to 1999.

Jane Moore, a writer for the Coppell Citizens’ Advocate, received the E.F. Elder Award for outstanding reporting in education from the Texas Association of Curriculum Development and Supervision. She won for a series of articles on attendance boundary changes in the Coppell school district.

Clara G. Moreno celebrated 50 years of service to the Laredo Morning Times on Sept. 14. She started at the newspaper, then called Laredo Times, on that same day in 1953. Hearst Newspapers president George B. Irish issued a letter of recognition for the achievement and Moreno was honored at an anniversary party.

Tammye Nash joined the Ellis County Chronicle as managing editor. She replaced Leanne Brindle who returned to reporting to devote more time to other pursuits. Nash has worked in newspapers for 21 years and came from the Cleburne Times Review.

The New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung announced two staff changes. David Rupkalvis has been named sports editor. He came from the Sierra Vista (Ariz.) Herald where he worked six years in sports and three as municipal government reporter. Brady Creel came on board as news editor in August. He was a Dow Jones copyediting intern at the Houston Chronicle. He also was editor of The Battalion while earning a degree at Texas A&M University.

Gary Ott was promoted to editor of the Midland Reporter-Telegram, only the fourth editor change since the 1940s. He had been serving as interim editor since February when Meta Minton resigned to become editor at an Illinois daily. Ott first joined the staff in 1983 as city editor and later was promoted to managing editor.

Bob Palmer, publisher of the Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune, was roasted at the Fifth Annual SAFE-T Celebrity Roast Oct. 4 at the Titus County Civic Center.

James Ragland, a columnist and 15-year veteran of The Dallas Morning News, was honored by Texas A&M University – Commerce Nov. 1 as a distinguished alumnus.

Al Rowe is the new publisher of the Grand Saline Sun and Edgewood Enterprise. He had served as editor for both publications since May. He replaced Nell French, who will remain as publisher and editor of the Wood County Democrat.

Tori Rowe is the newest reporter for The Huntsville Item. She has worked at the Texarkana Gazette, Denton Chronicle and The (Daingerfield)Bee.

Lynn Walker, longtime TV news anchor, joined the Wichita Falls Times Record News as night city editor. He has four decades of experience in television and radio and joined the staff to take on the newly created position.

Andrea Wall joined the Abilene Reporter-News as sports writer. She came from the Corpus Christi Caller-Times where she covered extreme sports.

Jim Webre joined The Sealy News as staff writer. He brings more than 20 years of experience in writing and reporting to the job, having worked for newspapers in Texas, Louisiana and California.u

Stuart Wilk, managing editor of The Dallas Morning News, was elected president of the Associated Press Managing Editors during the association’s annual meeting. For the past year Wilk had served as vice president of the organization. Chris Kelley, editor of DallasNews.Com, the Web site of The Dallas Morning News, was elected to an online seat.