STPA/TGCPA celebrate annual conventions jointly

PORT LAVACA - Members of the Texas Gulf Coast and South Texas press associations announced contest awards, installed new officers and honored outstanding contributions when members gathered in Port Lavaca for a joint convention.

TGCPA honored long-time treasurer Nonnie Barton with induction into the organization’s Hall of Honor. A TPA Golden 50 honoree, Barton has worked with her family’s newspaper The Fayette County Record, for more than 50 years, most of those years as corporate bookkeeper.

A special resolution of the TGCPA board detailed Barton’s contribution as TGCPA treasurer for more than 20 years —  a feat that at times required Herculean accounting and financial skills. See the resolution in a separate sidebar.

TGCPA honored the Polk County Enterprise with the group’s Ferris Block Community Service Award for its coverage of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas over the course of the calendar year 2025. Managing Editor Emily Banks Wooten compiled the coverage, which included articles, photos and explanations.

Both groups conducted their annual contests with awards presented at the convention.

Sweepstakes winners in the South Texas Press Association contest were The Frio-Nueces Current (Pearsall) in Division I and the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post in Division II. Andy Behlen of the Fayette County Record was named Photographer of the Year and Breyana Segura of the Frio-Nueces Current was named Journalist of the Year.

In the TGCPA contest, sweepstakes winners were Burleson County Tribune in Division I and the Fayette County Record in Division II. Melanie Berger of the Flatonia Argus was honored as Photographer of the Year and Journalist of the Year honors went to Andy Behlen of the Fayette County Record.

Retiring STPA president Paul Prause becomes chairman for 2026-27 and Meghann Garcia of the Uvalde News takes over as president. Other STPA officers include first Vice President Marc Robertson, Frio-Nueces Current, second Vice President Raul Garcia, Jr., The Mercedes Enterprise and Secretary-Treasurer Melanie Berger, Flatonia Argus. Directors include Lisa Luna, Pleasanton Express; Kelli Hartig, Port Aransas South Jetty; Pete Luna, Uvalde Leader-News; Jeff Wick, Fayette County Record; Jeff Berger, Hondo Anvil Herald; and Regina Keilers, Fayette County Record.

Sue Brown, TPA, serves as historian, Lisa Walter chairs the Media Service Committee and Regina Keilers, Fayette County Record, chairs the Internship Committee.

For TGCPA, Denise Squier, Burleson County Tribune, succeeded Regina Keilers as president. Keilers becomes chairman of the TGCPA board for 2026-27. Other new TGCPA officers include first Vice President Ashley Keenan, Polk County Publishing Co., second Vice President Denise Squier, Burleson County Tribune, and Treasurer Nonnie Barton, Fayette County Record.

Directors include Melanie Berger, Flatonia Argus; Dan Parker, Port Aransas South Jetty; Sue Brown, Texas Press Association; Schelly Bartels, Port Lavaca Wave; CJ Vetter, Port Lavaca Wave; and Ashley Kontnier, Hays Free Press. Mary Judson serves as assistant to the president and Tania French chairs the Site Selection Committee. Sponsorship Committee will be headed by Tania French and Schelly Bartels.

Tania French, Port Lavaca Wave, chairs the Site Selection Committee for both groups.

In addition to networking opportunities and luncheon/banquets, the convention also included industry sessions on topics such as AI and researching public records.