- 30 -

Obituaries published in the December 2024 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

Keith  Bridwell

BRIDGEPORT – Veteran newsman and former publisher of the Bridgeport Index Keith Harlan Bridwell, 79, died Sept. 29.

A native of Denton, he attended Decatur Baptist College, then continued his education at West Texas State University in Canyon.

Perhaps best known for his tenure as the publisher of The Bridgeport Index, Bridwell was a lifelong newspaperman, having served as publisher and/or editor of several other publications through the years, including The Frisco Enterprise, The Chico Texan, and the Wise County Shopper.

He was active in the Bridgeport Education Foundation for many years, as well as a large number of other community-based organizations and events. He also worked closely with other ham radio operators to ensure that communications could be maintained during local emergencies. He was also the family’s “weather forecaster,” since he had devoted so much time studying and predicting weather patterns.

He is preceded in death by a son, Randall Jason Bridwell; a brother, Stanley Malone Bridwell; and his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karen; three children; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and other relatives.

Funeral services were held Oct. 7 at the First Baptist Church of Bridgeport, with interment at Eastside Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.

Harry Wood

ORANGE – Longtime newsman Harry Gordon Wood, 85, of Orange, former editor of the Port Arthur News and publisher of the Orange Leader, died Nov. 8 in Beaumont. He was 85.

A native of Hillsboro, Wood attended Navarro Junior College, playing basketball. He later transferred to Taylor University, where he graduated in 1963 with a bachelors degree in history.

For more than 30 years he was a newspaper reporter, editor and publisher. After working at the San Angelo Standard-Times, he became editor of the Hillsboro Daily Mirror. He then became state editor of the Hot Springs Sentinel Record, then worked at the Texarkana Gazette. He then moved his family to Port Neches, where he served as editor of the Port Arthur News from 1977-1984. He was then transferred to the Orange Leader as publisher.

For 10 years Wood owned his own company, Southeast Texas Publications, and worked closely with the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce to publish the Metropolitan Beaumont Magazine and the Southeast Texas Business Journal.

He retired from Lamar Institute of Technology after serving as director of public information and development.

Wood was also involved in the communities where he lived. He served as club president and lieutenant governor of Kiwanis International, chairman of the Southeast Texas Private Industry Council, chairman of the Southeast Texas Economic Development Foundation, chairman of Southeast Texas, Inc., president of the Orange Chamber of Commerce, vice president of Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce, board member of United Way in Orange and Port Arthur, and worked closely with the American Red Cross in Orange and Port Arthur.

He was a deacon and Sunday school teacher at North Orange Baptist Church for more than 40 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and first wife, Helen Bruner, and infant daughter.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Deana Wood; two children; four granddaughters; a great granddaughter, and other relatives.

Memorial service was held at North Orange Baptist Church on Nov.  22.

Memorials may be made to the North Orange Baptist Church or The Gideons International.

Barry Pierce

MIDLAND – Longtime Midland Reporter-Telegram employee Barry Pierce, 71, died Nov. 12.

A native of Lamesa, Pierce earned his master electrician license after graduating high school there. In addition to starting his own business, Circle P Electric, he worked for the Midland Reporter-Telegram until his retirement.

He is survived by his wife Billie, two sons, five grandchildren and other relatives. Services were held Nov. 18 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Chapel.