Jerry Tidwell, 119th president, graduated from Andrews High School in 1963, along with fellow Texas newspaper publishers and Texas Press Association past presidents Roy McQueen and Larry Crabtree.

Tidwell majored in management and graduated from Texas Christian University in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After graduation, he worked for four years as an industrial engineer in Fort Worth.

He began his newspaper career in 1970 as advertising manager of the Andrews County News.

He transferred to the Seminole Sentinel where he was advertising manager for three years.

In 1976 he was named publisher of the Lamb County News in Littlefield, and in 1979 became publisher of the Hood County News.

Tidwell married his high school sweetheart, Vana, in 1966. They have two children.

He was president of North and East Texas Press Association in 1984-85 and is a recipient of that association’s Sam Holloway Award.