Newsmakers

New hires, promotions and other employee changes at Texas newspapers reported in the July 2023 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

CLARICE TOUHEY

Victoria Advocate

VICTORIA – Clarice Touhey, most recently publisher of two North Dakota newspapers, has been named general manager of the Victoria Advocate.

Touhey brings decades of experience with her to Victoria, including leadership roles at some of the nation’s largest news organizations.

Touhey was publisher and president of Hearst Corp’s Texas Community Group in the Beaumont area and president of Forum Publishing, the community news unit of Tribune Co.’s SunSentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She also has been senior group publisher for GateHouse Media in Houma, Louisiana.

Most recently she was publisher of the Williston Herald and Sidney Herald in North Dakota.

Touhey replaces George Coleman, who is retiring to the Austin area to be near family. Coleman joined the paper in 2019 as advertising sales director and became general manager about a year later.

Touhey said she’s been a supporter and participant in community journalism for many years.

She sees herself and the paper getting more involved in the Victoria community.

“I’m a big believer in community involvement,” she said. “Whatever I can add to the mix I’m willing to do.”

RICHARD PARKER

The Kerrville Daily Times

KERRVILLE - Richard Parker is the new editor of the Kerrville Daily Times.

Parker, a published author, has an extensive background in journalism, including serving as a contributor to major newspaper outlets such as the New York Times, Houston Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times. He has also served as a contributiong columnist for The Dallas Morning News.

Publisher Jennifer McCollough announced the appointment, noting that Parker “brings with him a boundless amount of experience and the opportunity to provide readers with a perspective and outlook that goes well beyond Kerr County.”

STEPHEN COLLINS

Alvin Sun and Advertiser

ALVIN – Sports Editor Stephen Collins has been promoted to managing editor for both the Weekend Alvin Sun and Wednesday Alvin Advertiser editions.

Collins continues to serve as the sports editor, a post he has held at the Alvin Sun and Advertiser since 1990, while heading up the news department.

Collins is a three-time winner of the Hartman Excellence in Sports Writing Award and has received sportswriter of the year awards from the Texas Girls’ Coaches Association, the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches. He has also won awards from the Texas Press Association, Gulf Coast Press Association and Texas Community Newspapers Association.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity,” Collins said.

“I encourage readers to turn in both news and sports items and they will get into our newspapers ASAP.”

Collins is married to Josephine and has two daughters, Stephanie and Samantha and grandson Ezekiel.

GUY CHAPMAN

Corsicana Daily Sun

CORSICANA – Guy Chapman has rejoined the staff of his hometown newspaper, the Corsicana Daily Sun, as editor.

The appointment was announced by Publisher Jake Mienk, who noted Chapman “has a great deal of experience and understands the the importance of small town community journalism.”

Chapman’s work portfolio is diverse. He has worked in the radio, television, film and video game industries over the course of nearly 30 years.

A native of Corsicana, Chapman has also lived in San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Pensacola. He graduated from Navarro College, where his father taught political science.

He later attended the University of North Texas, majoring in radio/television/film.

He first started with the Corsicana Daily Sun in 2017 as a freelance columnist and later joined the staff full time as a journalist and photographer. In 2020, he formed his own digital news site, the Navarro County Gazette, and in 2021 served as on-air news director for a local radio station.

MARTI JACKSON

Wharton Journal-Spectator

WHARTON - Marti Jackson has joined the Wharton Journal-Spectator as classified advertising manager.

A resident of Wharton for 22 years, Jackson has worked in various customer service and accounting positions and has been active in the community through leadership and volunteering in youth sports and school district athletics. She and her husband Troy have two children.

ELAINA FUENTES-WETZ

Wharton Journal-Spectator

WHARTON – Elaina Fuentes-Wetz is the new retail advertising sales manager for the Wharton Journal-Spectator.

A native of Wharton, she has sales management experience in retail cosmetics sales and worked as human resources coordinator in the oil and gas industry in Houston.