Texas Press Messenger history

The December 2025 edition of the Texas Press Messenger marks the end of the publication’s 100th year. Beginning in January 2026, the Messenger will be an eEdition newspaper available online at www.texaspress.com.

Some bound books and many microfilms of the print Messenger dating to 1925 are held at the Texas Press Association offices, while more complete archives are housed at the Briscoe Center for American History, part of the University of Texas Library System.

This is the last in a year-long series of columns based on Messenger history from the archives at TPA.

1935

In December 1935, Texas Press Association members were preparing for the long-awaited Texas Centennial Celebration in 1936, billed as “Texas Welcomes the World.”

TPA officers and newspaper publishers played a large role in helping plan the celebration and in lobbying the state legislature to allocate funding, as well as to making sure advertising for the statewide observance was placed in newspapers throughout the state.

According to the Messenger, “The Texas Centennial, of course, in its broad perspective, is not localized in the form of a single gigantic exposition. The project in Dallas will be worthy in every way to bear designation as the Centennial central exposition, but the Centennial is also characterized by a series of coordinated celebrations throughout the state.”

The observance was a welcome boost for the state, especially rural areas, as the Great Depression’s effects on the economy lingered.

Communities and cities across the state were planning local celebrations focusing on each area’s unique history and contributions to the Republic of Texas.

- - -

Convention Committee Chairman John S. Hart of Commerce announced the first planning session for the 1936 TPA Convention set in Tyler would be held in January. 

While a two-day summer meeting was planned, the chairman “wishes to crowd in as much business and programs as a full meeting.”

1945

Texas plans ahead for convention that will bring nation’s editors here

Eager for newspapermen and women of the other 47 states to get acquainted with Texas, the Texas Press Association and the Texas Newspaper Publishers Association are planning for the state to host the next convention of the National Editorial Association.

The meeting will be held in 1946 or 1947, depending on transportation conditions and hotel facilities.

Between 400 and 500 newspaper folk will attend, Don Eck, manager of the NEA, assured Joe Cook, president of TPA, and E.C. Davis, president of TNPA.

The convention city has not yet been selected but it will be one of the larger cities able to care for a convention of this size in a manner reflecting true Texas hospitality.

- - -

Advertising tips

A number of Texas newspapers have started running free want ads for veterans seeking jobs. One publisher reports that in the first two weeks the plan has provided reader interest and is securing results for the veterans. The publisher says that the cost thus far has been insignificant in proportion to the good will created. Another publisher says that he has been thinking of doing so as well; however, the labor shortage is such in his community that no returning veterans are having any difficulty in finding jobs.

- - -

Armed Forces News

Garland A. Smith, former president of the South Texas Press Association and publisher of The Caldwell News, was back in Texas recently to assist the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce in arranging for Admiral Nimitz’ visit. Smith is stationed with the 8th Naval District in New Orleans.

Press Personals

Due to the continued paper shortage, the San Angelo Standard-Times issued no papers on Armistice Day and Thanksgiving Day.

- - -

Some newspapers are not holding their annual subscription specials due to the cost and availability of paper and other rising costs.

1955

TPA signs two more speakers for mid-winter meeting

Already signed on the dotted line are two speakers for the TPA Mid-Winter Meeting who will have messages of real importance.

One is Arthur H. (Red) Motley, publisher of Parade, the Sunday picture magazine. The other is R.L. Phinney of Austin, regional director of Revenue.

The Jan. 21 meeting will be held at the Commodore Perry Hotel in Austin.

- - -

1956 Contest plans announced

L.B. Smith, Brady Standard, chairs the 1956 Texas Newspaper Contest Committee, which met in Austin to plan next year’s contests.

Working with him are Roy Craig, Stamford American, TPA President Russell W. Bryant, Italy News-Herald, Don Scarbrough, Williamson County Sun, Coy Perry, Dublin Progress; W.H. Graham, State Line Tribune in Farwell, Burton Feilder, Farmersville Times, William C. Poole, Greenville Daily Herald, Roy V. Fox, Colorado City Record, and W.E. Berger, Hondo Anvil-Herald.

Contest rules will be released to all TPA members in the Member’s Service Bulletin in January. The six divisions remain the same, one for larger dailies, one for smaller dailies, one for semi-weeklies and three for weeklies in the various population brackets.

- - -

Editor has many talents

Fane L. Burt, managing editor of the Carrizo Springs Javelin, won first prize in a beard contest conducted by the Carrizo Springs Chamber of Commerce prior to Dimmit County’s 75th anniversary celebration.

In the historical cavalcade Burt played the lead and directed a scene in which pioneer Javelin Publisher M. Earle Cook interviewed the town’s leading citizens.

The Javelin, established in 1884, is the oldest continually published weekly newspaper in the Southwest Texas area. W.E. Berger of Hondo is publisher.

1965

News clinic provides breaking news for participants to cover

Organizers of TPA’s first news writing clinic held at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville staged a news event for clinic participants to observe and to cover.

A group of students held a mock protest demonstration against the Vietnam War. Other students gathered in opposition and physically clashed with the protesters, one of whom was allegedly burning his draft card. Some students in the mock exercise were “injured and others were arrested.” All participants, including the people acting as emergency medical personnel and law enforcement, were available to talk to the clinic reporters.

After the reports from 130 clinic participants were filed with the teachers/judges, there was much criticism.

The judges said too many writers editorialized, slanting their stories in favor of the students who attempted to break up the protest —  for instance, according to one report “Sam Houston’s cleaner-cut students put an end to the demonstration by roaring down the hill and chasing off the bearded, haggard beatniks.”

Judges also noted that most of the stories had incorrect information as to the number of students involved, the number injured and the number arrested. Some said there were 12 demonstrators, another said 30 and one called the demonstration “a group of three.” Judges also dismissed stories that led with the date, time, place or other trivia.

However, there were some prize winning ledes published in the Messenger.

1975

Second Trade Show set to outpace the first

Still celebrating the success of the first Trade Show in January 1975, TPA is planning an even bigger event for January 1976.

The 29th annual Mid-Winter Convention and second annual Trade Show are set Jan. 15-17 at the Marriott Motor Hotel in Dallas.

Among the speakers set to give programs are Sen. Walter H. Mengden of Houston; Rep. Robert Hendricks of McKinney; Marion Krehbiel, newspaper broker; and John Gumm, freelance photographer formerly with the Oklahoma Journal.

- - -

Item goes daily in Huntsville

Now in its 125th year, the Huntsville Item is one of the newest papers in the state to go daily.

The Item steadily progressed into its present operation by publishing twice weekly beginning in 1965 and then adding a third weekly edition in 1972.

J. Tom Graham is publisher of the newspaper, owned by Harte-Hanks Newspapers since 1967.

- - -

New paper machine to boost Texas newsprint supply

Construction has begun on a multi-million newsprint expansion at Southland Paper’s Lufkin Mill.

The project calls for replacement of the mill’s No. 2 paper machine, now in its 26th year of operations, with a new advanced design paper machine capable of production up to 152,000 tons of newsprint a year. The present No. 2 machine has a capacity of about 75,000 tons per year.

Southland President Melvin E. Kurth Jr. said the project will help Southland keep pace with growing demands for newsprint in the South, Southwest and Midwest.

- - -

New in Brownsville

The Brownsville Herald, published by Ralph M. Julliard, has installed a new 50,000-per-hour offset press, which completes the transition to photo-offset equipment for the entire plant.

1985

Mid-Winter Meeting planned

Fifty years after helping plan and launch the state’s Centennial celebration, TPA and Texas newspapers prepared to celebrate the Texas Sesquicentennial in 1986 - starting with the Mid-Winter Convention and Trade Show Jan. 23-25 in Dallas.

Among the programs featured was a debate concerning a very controversial topic: Should TPA amend its bylaws to permit membership of free-circulation newspapers? Speaking in favor were Larry Jackson of the Pecos Enterprise and Robert Thornton of the Grapevine Sun. Speaking against the move were Bob Hamilton of the Iowa Park Leader and Don Scarborough of the Williamson County Sun. A straw poll was taken in the audience following the debate. (No changes in the TPA membership requirements were made at that time.)

- - -

Judge asked to open sealed agreement

Two Metroplex newspapers have asked a federal court judge to keep officials of Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and J.W. Ryan Construction Co. from closing to the public the terms of a settlement agreement.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Dallas Morning News, in motions filed by their attorneys, have requested that a pending agreement between the parties to not be sealed. The airport board of directors favors sealing the agreement to keep its contents secret.

“There is a presumption that court files should be public,” said Tom Williams, one of the attorneys representing the Star-Telegram.

“If they’re not going to be public, there must be a pretty good reason why not. There must be a compelling reason because one of the litigants is a public body and there are public funds involved.”

- - -

Not-so-wise advice

A column by Lynn Ashby, reprinted from the Houston Post, included advice for someone thinking of becoming a journalist:

“To be a reporter, it helps if you can write. If you cannot write but you can read, you are made an editor. If you cannot read or write, you go into television,

It is acceptable to toss your own opinion into a news story, but never let the reader know it. Thus, use these key phrases:

“sources said.”

“However, equally qualified experts disagreed.”

“key officials”

“the consensus is”

“as one veteran observer noted.”

A few things to avoid include honest work, steady hours, mobs carrying a burning effigy of Uncle Sam and letting the company auditor see your expense account.”