Christopher F. Barbee, 114th president, was born into the newspaper business Sept. 6, 1951, and continues a string of three consecutive Barbees in the profession.

He served as president of Texas Gulf Coast Press Association from 1981-82 and South Texas Press Association from 1988-89.

His grandfather, Fred V. Barbee, was mechanical superintendent of the Brownwood Bulletin at the time of his death in 1963. His father, Fred V. Barbee Jr., has been publisher of the El Campo Leader-News since June 1968 and the Wharton Journal-Spectator since January 1977.

Barbee began his career selling the Seminole Sentinel door-to-door in 1961 at age 10.

Barbee graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970 with a journalism degree. He was an associate sports editor for The Daily Texan.

He was sports editor of the Leader-News from 1974-76, and in 1976 was named managing editor, a position he still holds.

Barbee married Carol Hansen in 1977 and they have a son and a daughter.