From typesetter to Town Chatter: Jasek reaches 70 years in journalism

Lavaca County celebrated a remarkable milestone recently as Henry Joe Jasek began his 70th year in journalism.

By MICHELLE PRICE, Halletsville Tribune-Herald

Jasek’s career started on Aug. 30, 1956, when he was a recent high school graduate looking for work close to home. The Moulton Eagle hired him as a typesetter, a job that came at a critical time for his family. With his father battling cancer and his mother in need of help, Jasek set aside his plans to attend business school and stayed near home to support them.

That decision, rooted in putting others first, has come to define both his personal and professional life.

After mastering the craft of typesetting, Jasek joined the Lavaca County Tribune, where he also contributed to the Novy Domov, a community newspaper written in Czech. Fluent in the language, he brought valuable skills in reading, writing and translating Czech, making him an essential voice in keeping cultural connections alive. The Novy Domov published until 1970, but Jasek’s journalism career continued to grow.

“Henry definitely has grown with the times, I have many people who I have worked with over the years that fear using Adobe products but at 87 years young Henry, uses Adobe Indesign like a champ,” Graphic Designer Michelle Price said, adding Jasek brings joy and laughter to each and every day.

Over the decades, he has witnessed the industry’s transformation firsthand, from the clatter of a linotype to the speed of digital publishing. Through all the changes, one constant has been his commitment to sharing stories that matter to the community.

Today, Jasek is best known for his long-running Town Chatter column, which highlights the events, milestones and everyday moments that weave together small-town life. His writing has kept neighbors connected and traditions alive.

Beyond his newsroom work, Jasek and his wife, Delores, have raised two children, Becky and Darren, all while staying deeply rooted in the community that has shaped his life and career.

Jasek always comes to work with a smile on his face and a chuckle in his heart. Fellow Tribune Herald employee Murray Montgomery said, “Henry is a very experienced employee and he is very dedicated to what he does, and he hates to make mistakes.”

Seventy years after that first day at the Moulton Eagle, Jasek’s passion for journalism and dedication to others remain as strong as ever. His story is not just about a career in newsprint but about building connections, preserving culture, and putting community first.