Wise County Messenger management changes

DECATUR – Kristen Tribe has resigned as publisher of the Wise County Messenger in Decatur to become managing editor of Cowboys and Indians magazine in Dallas.
“Kristen has been an important part of the Messenger family for almost 30 years, but we know her passion is for writing, and this is a great new opportunity for her,” said Roy J. Eaton, president of the Messenger.
Tribe joined the newspaper staff while still a student at Alvord High School. She has a journalism degree from Texas A&M University and after graduation worked for several years for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s Cattleman magazine.
After returning to the Messenger 13 years ago she served as a reporter, editor and publisher. She served as a director of the Texas Press Association and president of the West Texas Press Association.
She and her husband Shane are the parents of two children. Luke Tribe is a freshman at Texas A&M University and their daughter Allie is a junior at Decatur High School. The Tribes are members of the Decatur Church of Christ.
Kristi Bennett has been promoted to general manager of the Messenger, succeeding Mark Jordan, who retired after 40 years with the newspaper. “Kristi has been a valuable member of the Messenger staff since 1989 and we are delighted she has accepted this promotion,” said Eaton.
Bennett joined the company after graduation from Chico High School and worked as a graphic artist at the newspaper. She moved to the business office in 1994 and was promoted to business manager in 2009 following the retirement of Jeannine Eaton.
She and her husband Deroy, assistant chief of the Decatur Fire Department, are the parents of two sons, both graduates of Decatur High School. Hayden Bennett is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Fire Protection Engineering and Safety Technology and Caleb Bennett is a Firefighter/EMT with the Bedford and Decatur Fire Departments. 
Roy Eaton, a past president of the Texas Press Association, will resume his duties as publisher of the paper the Eatons have owned since 1973.