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Texas Press Association Past Presidents

More than 140 men and women have led the association since its inception in 1880. In the early days, the president managed association affairs for the membership. TPA hired its first full-time executive director in 1947.

The TPA president is elected by the general membership at each annual Summer Convention and serves one year until the close of the next summer meeting.

The TPA president is the highest elected official in the association and is granted honorary membership for life after completing his or her term.

2022-2023 Leonard Woolsey The Daily News, Galveston
2021-2022 Jim Bardwell Gladewater Mirror
2020-2021 Ramona Ferguson The Banner Press Newspaper
2018-2020 Laurie Ezzell-Brown The Canadian Record
2017-2018 Patrick Canty Odessa American
2016-2017 Randy Keck The Community News, Aledo
2015-2016 Glenn Rea Cuero Record
2014-2015 Randy Mankin Eldorado Success
2013-2014 Greg Shrader The Lufkin News
2012-2013 Russel Skiles Lamesa Press-Reporter
2011-2012 Chad Ferguson The Banner Press Newspaper
2010-2011 Bob Brincefield Brownwood Bulletin
2009-2010 Terry Collier Fredericksburg Standard Radio Post
2008-2009 Roy Robinson The Graham Leader
2007-2008 Phil Major Clay County Leader
2006-2007 Marshall Day Gatesville Messenger
2005-2006 Judy Johnson Hometown News Winnie
2004-2005  Wanda Garner Cash  Baytown Sun
2003-2004 Willis Webb Jasper Newsboy
2002-2003 Bob Buckel Azle News
2001-2002 Larry Reynolds  
2000-2001  Alvin Holley Polk County Publishing
1999-2000 Lynn Brisendine Brownfield News
1998-1999  Larry Jackson Wharton Journal Spectator
1997-1998 Rollie Hyde Plainview Daily Herald
1996-1997 Jerry Tidwell Hood County News
1995-1996 Sarah Greene Gilmer Mirror
1994-1995 Dick Richards Aransas Pass Progress
1993-1994 James R. Hudson Perryton Herald
1992-1993 Larry Crabtree Vernon Daily Record
1991-1992 Chris Barbee El Campo Leader News
1990-1991 Mary Henkel Judson Port Aransas South Jetty
1989-1990 Roy McQueen Snyder Daily News
1988-1989 Fred E. Lowe Lampasas Dispatch Record
1987-1988 Roy J. Eaton Wise County Messenger
1986-1987 Charles Schulz Taylor Daily Press
1985-1986 Walter Buckel Lamesa Press Reporter
1984-1985 Frank Baker Fort Stockton Pioneer
1983-1984 John Crawford Pottsboro Press
1982-1983 T.H. Cunningham, Llano News
1981-1982 O.G. Speedy Nieman, Hereford Brand
1980-1981 James Roberts Andrews County News
1979-1980 William E. Dozier Kerrville Daily Times
1978-1979  Fred V. Barbee Jr. El Campo Leader News
1977-1978 Bob Hamilton, Iowa Park Leader
1976-1977 J.C. Chatmas Marlin Daily Democrat
1975-1976  John Taylor Seguin Gazette
1974-1975 Glenn Sedam Bay City Tribune
1973-1974 Tom Steely Lamar County Echo
1972-1973 Don Coppedge Waxahachie Daily Light
1971-1972  Rigby Owen Sr. Conroe Courier
1970-1971 Ellie Hopkins Longview News Journal
1969-1970 George Hawkes Arlington Citizen Journal
1968-1969  Glynn Morris Borger News Herald
1967-1968  Harold Hudson Perryton Herald
1966-1967 Jim Barnhill Hillsboro Daily Mirror
1965-1966 Winn Crossley Madisonville Meteor
1964-1965  Aubrey McAlister Bonham Daily Favorite
1963-1964 W.E. Berger Hondo Anvil Herald
1962-1963 George Baker Fort Stockton Pioneer
1961-1962 Victor B. Fain Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel
1960-1961 L.B. Smith Brady Standard Herald
1959-1960 Tom Whitehead Sr. Brenham Banner Press
1958-1959 J.C. Smyth Liberty Vindicator
1957-1958 Jimmie Gillentine Hereford Brand
1956-1957 David C. Leavell Galveston News Tribune
1955-1956 Russell W. Bryant Italy News Herald
1954-1955 W.R. Beaumier Lufkin Daily News
1953-1954 Arthur H. Kowert Fredericksburg Standard
1952-1953 William Rawland Cleburne Times Review
1951-1952  Brad H. Smith Weslaco News
1950-1951 Frederick I. Massengill Jr. Terrell Tribune
1949-1950  Van W. Stewart Ochiltree County Herald
1948-1949 Robert Matherne Baytown Sun
1947-1948  Paul M. Fulks Wolfe City Sun
1946-1947  Walter R. Humphrey Fort Worth Press
1945-1946  J.T. Cook Mission Times
1944-1945  George B. Peeler Taylor Daily Press
1943-1944 L.M. Watson Sweetwater News
1942-1943  James F. Donahue Freeport Facts-Review
1941-1942  David M. Warren Panhandle Herald
1940-1941 Charles K. Devall Kilgore News Herald
1939-1940  W.E. Buckner San Marcos Record
1938-1939  Deskin Wells Wellington Leader
1937-1938 R.J. Edwards Denton Record Chronicle
1936-1937 H.H. Jackson Coleman Democrat Voice
1935-1936 Louis C. Elbert Galveston News Tribune
1934-1935 Sam C. Holloway Deport Times
1933-1934 R.F. Higgs Stephenville Empire Tribune
1932-1933  Lowry Martin Corsicana Sun
1931-1932 R.L. Scott DeLeon Free Press
1930-1931  R.H. Nichols Vernon Record
1929-1930 H.F. Schwenker Brady Standard
1928-1929 Sam E. Miller Mineral Wells Index
1927-1928 E.A. Carlock Paducah Post
1927-1928 George T. Neu Brenham Banner
1926-1927  R.L. Baldridge Clifton Record
1925-1926  W.A. Smith San Saba News
1924-1925 A.H. Luker Grapeland Messenger
1923-1924 Sam Braswell Clarendon News
1922-1923 S.D. "Denver" Chesnutt Kenedy Advance
1921-1922  Judd Mortimer Lewis Houston Post
1920-1921  J. Esten Cooke Rockdale Reporter
1919-1920  Sam Fore, Jr. Floresville Chronicle Journal
1918-1919  Harry Koch Quanah Tribune Chief
1917-1918  Sherwood Spotts Bonham Favorite
1916-1917 Henry Edwards Troup Banner
1915-1916 Walter B. Whitman Holland's Magazine
1914-1915 D.R. Harris Rusk County News
1913-1914  J.J. Taylor Dallas Morning News
1912-1913 W.C. Edwards Denton Record Chronicle
1911-1912 J.A. Thomas Mineola Monitor
1910-1911 J.R. Ransone Jr. Cleburne Enterprise
1909-1910 W.A. Johnson Memphis Herald
1908-1909 Clarence Edgar Gilmore Wills Point Chronicle
1907-1908  W.J. Buie Waxahachie Enterprise
1906-1907  Thomas W. Perkins McKinney Courier Gazette
1905-1906  J.H. Lowry Honey Grove Signal
1904-1905  Sidney J. Thomas Comanche Chief
1903-1904  Robert Enoch Yantis Athens Review
1902-1903  C.N. Ousley Houston Post
1901-1902 F.B. Robinson Huntsville Item
1900-1901  E.W. Harris Greenville Herald
1899-1900  W.H. Mayes Brownwood Bulletin
1898-1899  John Gilbert Rankin Brenham Banner
1897-1898  S.M. Vernon Comanche Chief
1896-1897  Col. F.B. Baillio Cleburne Review
1895-1896  John H. Cullom Garland News
1895-1896  W.A. Adair Marshall Messenger
1894-1895  Col. Frank P. Holland Texas Farm & Ranch
1893-1894  A.C. Scurlock Cleburne Chronicle
1892-1893  John H. Copeland San Antonio News
1891-1892  J.F. Mitchell Greenville Banner
1890-1891  Juan S. Hart El Paso Times
1889-1890  R.M. Johnston Houston Post
1888-1889  J.P. Bridges Luling Signal
1887-1888  William Ferguson San Antonio Times
1886-1887 Lafayette Lumpkin Foster Groesbeck New Era
1885-1886 J.H. Davis Mount Vernon Herald
1885-1886 T.J. Girardeau Houston Journal
1884-1885 W.L. Hall Dallas Herald
1883-1884 W.M. Yandell Guadalupe Times
1881-1883 H.L. Gosling Castroville Quill
1880-1881 J.W. Fishburn Mexia Ledger