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Obituaries published in the December 2021 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

RALPH LANGER

ROCKWALL – Ralph Langer, the editor who guided The Dallas Morning News in defeating the Dallas Times Herald in a newspaper war, died Aug. 5. He was 84. 
He was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, and attended Central Michigan University, where he met his wife of 61 years, Kathy McGuire. He graduated from the University of Michigan. He majored in journalism and news was his life. 
He was the youngest managing editor in the country when he worked for the Port Angeles, Washington Evening News in the early 1960s. He went on to the Detroit Michigan Free Press, The Dayton Ohio Journal Herald and The Everett Washington Herald.
He joined The Dallas Morning News in 1981 as managing editor, became editor in 1983 and retired in 1998, covering two decades of some of the strongest growth for the industry and the paper. 
According to The Dallas Morning News, Langer and the late Burl Osborne, who was editor when Langer arrived, were at the top of a team of journalists who expanded sections, built up the newsroom staff, opened national and international bureaus, and led the newspaper to its first of nine Pulitzer Prizes - including seven during his tenure.
“Ralph was an exceptional person. He was extraordinarily fair-minded and related to people of all backgrounds. Not once did he ever disappoint me,” said Robert W. Decherd, chairman, president and CEO of DallasNews Corporation. “He ran a strong newsroom, and he was effective across all dimensions of a growing newsroom. Ralph was a great guy and a big part of our success.”
Langer had an appreciation for photojournalism as well as good storytelling and built up what was considered one of the best photography departments at any major newspaper. Several of the Pulitzer Prizes won by the News during Langer’s tenure were for photography.
Bob Mong, who succeeded Langer as editor of the newspaper and retired from The News in 2015, said, “The News never won a Pulitzer until Burl
and Ralph got there.”
Langer also was respected in other branches of his profession. He served as president of the Dallas Press Club, president of The Freedom of Information Foundation, president of The Associated Press Managing Editors Association and was a regent of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. 
After retiring from The News, Langer was asked by Southern Methodist University to help it build up its journalism department and stayed for four years. He succeeded in recruiting new people and worked with Decherd to secure funds from the newspaper company to build a broadcast studio and pay for an endowed chair. 
Langer’s time at SMU delayed his retirement plans to go fishing and write books, but he did both for many years from his home on Lake Ray Hubbard in Rockwall and at a cabin in Montana on the Yellowstone River.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, four grandchildren, three great grandchildren and other relatives. He was preceded in death by a daughter.
A celebration of life was held Aug. 20 at The Yacht Club in Rockwall. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, The American Diabetes Association or Susan G. Komen.

ANITA MILLER BYLEY

MARTINDALE – Award-winning journalist Anita Miller Byley, 68, who dedicated more than four decades to telling the stories of the people of Hays County, died Oct. 26 at Ascension Seton Hospital in Kyle.
Miller served as managing editor of the Hays Free Press for more than a year before ill health required her to step down. She worked at the San Marcos Daily Record for 39 years.
She was a native of Port Lavaca, where she grew up and graduated high school.
A graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in journalism in 1975, she joined the Record in 1980. She mentored student journalists and rising stars, some of whom moved to larger publications. Miller’s colleagues said her collegiality inspired excellence and ambition.
At the Record, Miller rose through the ranks from being a reporter in 1980 to managing editor in 2015. For many years, she was the only photographer for the newspaper. She won numerous journalism awards from the Texas Press Association, South Texas Press Association and the Associated Press.
Her love for the San Marcos community, the river and local organizations inspired her to support their efforts by telling their stories. She was inducted into the San Marcos Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018 and presented with the Friend of the River Award by the San Marcos River Foundation in 2013. She also was honored by Hays County and the City of San Marcos for her achievements. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church.
She married musician David Byley on Nov. 11, 1984, and he survives her, along with three sisters and other relatives and friends.
Memorials may be made to The River Foundation, El Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos and its Amigas group, Dunbar Heritage Association, Mano Amiga, LULAC, The Institute for Indigenous Cultures, La Sociedad de Cuauhtemoc, Southside Community Center and the Hays Caldwell Women’s Center.
A celebration of Miller’s life will be announced in the coming weeks.

MELVA JEAN GEYER

GREENVILLE – Longtime Herald-Banner editor Melva Jean Geyer, 76, of Greenville, died Nov. 5 in Greenville.
A native of Hamburg, Iowa, she graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor of arts in political science in 1968. After college, Geyer moved to San Antonio, then went to Greenville, where she went to work as a reporter for the Herald-Banner. For 35 years, she was employed at the Herald Banner and served as editor of the newspaper from 1992-2005.
She was a member of the Press Women of Texas, the National Federation of Press Women and the Texas Press Association. She garnered numerous awards during her years as a reporter and editor. The Herald-Banner was frequently recognized as an outstanding publication during Geyer’s tenure as editor. After leaving the Herald -Banner, she worked in marketing and public relations at Hunt Regional Healthcare.
Geyer was active with the Beautification Committee of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, CLEAN Greenville and Keep Greenville Beautiful. A Rotarian, she was served on the advisory board for Child Protective Services and as a volunteer and board member for the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum. She was also an avid sports fan, following the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, the Chicago Cubs and the Green Bay Packers.
She is survived by a cousin, Reverend Doctor Jerry L. Brinegar of Athens, Georgia. Memorials may be given to the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum, 600 I-30 East, Greenville, TX 75401 or online at cottonmuseum.com.
Plans for a memorial service are pending.