NETPA members gather for 99th convention

PILOT POINT – North and East Texas Press Association members gathered on the shore of Lake Ray Roberts for their 99th annual convention.

The meeting featured informative industry sessions and programs, including a chance for members to show off their artistic talents, as well as award presentations and annual fund raisers such as the golf tournament, bingo and the “It’s for the Children” scholarship benefit auction.

As first vice president, Abigail Bardwell, Pilot Point Post-Signal, coordinated and chaired the convention. At the close, she succeeded Richard Nelson, Hood County News, as president.

During the awards banquet, the group honored David Lewis, retired owner and editor of the Pilot Point Post-Signal with the Sam C. Holloway award for outstanding contributions to the newspaper industry in East Texas.

Lewis and his wife Pam owned and operated The Pilot Point Post-Signal from 1974 until they sold it to the family of current publisher Abigail Bardwell in 2024. The Lewises brought the paper, founded in 1878, into the digital age and grew its subscriptions as the area saw growth. Also during that time, the newspaper earned 10 Texas Press Association sweepstakes awards and eight NETPA sweepstakes awards. While Lewis ran the newspaper, Pam taught in the local schools. The couple raised four children, all graduates of Pilot Point High School.

Richard Greene, a former colleague at the newspaper for many years, noted the importance of the newspaper - and its publisher - to the local community.

“David Lewis’ impact on Pilot Point and Northeast Denton County is immeasurable,” Greene was quoted as saying in an article about the Post-Signal’s transition to new ownership in January 2024. “As community journalists, our hope is to impact our home by keeping our neighbors informed and make it a better place ... David Lewis is truly one of the finest community journalists.”

The group honored Suzanne Bellsnyder with the Tom Mooney Friend of the Newspaper Award. In addition to publishing her newspapers, Bellsnyder puts her 20 years of experience in Texas politics to work with the Texas Rural Reporter, a website featuring information designed “to give a stronger voice to rural Texas.”

Highlighting the final day of the convention was the contest award presentation.

Second vice president James Draper, Gladewater Mirror, chaired the NETPA Better Newspaper Contest.

Sweepstakes winners were the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel in Division 1; the Cleburne Times-Review in Division 2; Wise County Messenger, Division 3; and Springtown Epigraph in Division 4.

News Photographer of the Year was Joel Andrews of the Lufkin Daily News. Sports Photographer of the Year was Micah McCartney of the Wise County Messenger. Nicole Bradford, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, was honored as Journalist of the Year.

Full results are available on the NETPA website, netpa.us

Among the sessions was a program with watercolorist Justine Scott, who demonstrated watercolor brush strokes and led participants in creating colorful paintings. The resulting works were combined into two large framed artworks that sold in the benefit auction.

Panel discussions featured Pilot Point Mayor Chad Major and officials of other area cities, Aubrey Mayor Chris Rich, Krugerville Mayor Rodney Cagle and Providence Village Mayor Linda Inman, discussing municipal infrastructure and managing growth; and a group of new journalists describing their impressions of their first years of work in journalism. Texas Center for Community Journalism Director Austin Lewter directed the young journalists panel.

Speakers included Timothy Gieringer, program project specialist, University of North Texas Libraries Digital Newspaper Unit, who explained how newspapers are digitized; Robbie Merritt, Texas Parks and Wildlife Ray Roberts Lake State Park superintendent and park police, who discussed the history and economic impact of Ray Roberts Lake and other state park facilities; and Suzanne Bellsnyder, publisher of Hansford County Reporter-Statesman and the Sherman County Gazette along with the Texas Rural Reporter website, who discussed rural issues and understanding the Texas legislature.

In addition to Bardwell as chairman/president, other new officers for 2026-27 include First Vice President James Draper, Gladewater Mirror; Second Vice President Hugh Lewis, Jefferson Jimplecute; and Secretary/Treasurer Wyndi Veigel-Gaudette, The Dublin Citizen.

Chairing committees are Jim Bardwell, Gladewater Mirrors, scholarship, and Richard Nelson, Hood County News, finance.

Serving as directors are Lange Svehlak, Athens Daily Review; Ashley Terry, Azle News; Carla Stutsman, Azle News and Springtown Epigraph; Josh Havard, Lufkin Daily News; and Randy Keck, The Community News, Aledo.

The group’s 100th convention will be held in Kilgore in spring 2027.