Ad manager Reneau retires at Denton Record-Chronicle; Hendrix assumes role

DENTON – With 48 years of work in circulation, print production and advertising, Shawn Reneau retired from the Denton Record-Chronicle in December.
The newspaper hosted a retirement reception to help him celebrate. “Shawn has shown passion for what he does for the 48 years he has worked for the Denton Record-Chronicle,” Publisher Bill Patterson said in an article announcing Reneau’s retirement. “He’s accepted new responsibilities and challenges, embraced them and excelled. I appreciate all the dedicated service to our company, and we’ll certainly miss him.”
Patterson and Reneau have been friends since high school days in Denton.
Reneau started with the newspaper at the age of nine years and three months, when he talked the circulation department into giving him a paper route even though he was younger than the specified age of 10.
He became an official employee in the circulation department at age 16, while he was a high school student. He attended the University of North Texas on scholarship from the Record-Chronicle, working full-time while a student and graduating in 1981 with a business degree.
After working in the circulation department for 17 years, Reneau took over the newspaper’s commercial printing operation in 1991, eventually building it into a million-dollar operation. 
During this time, he mentored UNT journalism students who brought newsletters to the newspaper for layout and printing.
Reneau retired as advertising manager, a position he held since 2003. During this tenure, he got to know the Denton business community, as well as chamber of commerce and economic development leaders.
Succeeding Reneau as ad manager is Becci Hendrix, who has worked with him in the Record-Chronicle’s advertising department for 30 years.
Hendrix started her career in the newspaper business in 1980 as an advertising secretary at the Hobbs News-Sun in New Mexico, where she helped lay out the pages. 
She was promoted to advertising salesman after about five years. She stayed in that position for another five years before joining the Denton Record-Chronicle in 1990. 
Since joining the company, she has filled a few roles — from ad sales to co-op manager to digital media specialist. 
She succeeded Reneau as advertising manager Dec. 3. 
This new role gives her the chance to get back to her sales roots, making connections with business owners and community members.
“Becci has worked in our advertising department for over 22 years,” Patterson said. 
“She was a sales representative and our digital lead when we got into that area of business years ago and has continued to lead our digital transition, now a significant part of our business. Becci is connected with the business community, and I look forward to working with her as we continue our digital-first initiatives.”