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Nelson assumes duties as Mexia News publisher

MEXIA – Richard Nelson is the new publisher of The Mexia News and Groesbeck Journal, replacing Harry Darby, who announced in November he would leave at year end to pursue other interests.
Nelson moved to Limestone County from Freestone County, where he had served as publisher of The Teague Chronicle and The Fairfield Recorder since July 2017.
Nelson started in the newspaper business in 1983 as a sports writer at his hometown paper, The Baytown Sun, while still in high school. He has worked at several other newspapers across the state, from the Houston Post to smaller dailies and weeklies, including The Tyler Morning Telegraph, Jacksonville Daily Progress, Orange Leader and Fort Stockton Pioneer. 
About nine years ago, he moved to Diboll, located 10 miles south of Lufkin. While residing there he purchased the town’s newspaper, The Diboll Free Press. 
Last year a change was in the air, he said. “I was looking for a new opportunity at that point in my life,” Nelson explained. “Harry (Darby) and I worked together before, and I was using him as a sounding board. He told me of the opportunity in Freestone County.” 
Six months after taking over The Teague Chronicle and The Fairfield Recorder, Nelson moved to Mexia.
 “This is an awesome opportunity,” he said. “I loved my time in Teague and Fairfield and am glad I’ll still be close.” 
Nelson’s wife Kathy will be joining him in March after her daughter’s first baby is born. They will reside in Mexia. 
Darby will continue to live in Mexia. “My greatest experience here was working with all the people in the community and to serve in participating in the betterment of our community,” Darby said.