Obituaries

(Obituaries published in the December 2025 edition of the Texas Press Messenger) 

JOHN GRAVOIS

DALLAS – John Gravois, a man whose passion for journalism shaped both the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s political coverage and the reporters who worked for him, died on Nov. 11. He was 67.

Colleagues remembered Gravois for his passion for the craft and ability to make the people around him better.

Born Oct. 20, 1958 in Lafayette, son of Wanda Joy Reed of Iota, and Lloyd Joseph Gravois of Port Allen, John Reed Gravois moved from Crowley to Houma in Terrebonne Parish in the 1960s. He graduated from Terrebonne High School in 1976; Nicholls State University in 1980; and the Missouri School of Journalism in 1981.

He won his first newspaper award in the late 1970s — first place in the Louisiana Press Association contest for a photo of a dejected Houma high school (Vandebilt Catholic) baseball catcher, surrounded by members of the winning team, jumping for joy.

More recently, The Dallas Morning News politics team he led won National Headliners awards for its coverage two years in a row, and he was one of the editors of the Houston Chronicle’s team coverage of Hurricane Harvey, which became a finalist for a 2018 Pulitzer Prize.

“John was a reporter’s editor. I never recall him having to crack the whip,” recalled former Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter John Moritz, who reported to Gravois, then government affairs editor, from the paper’s Austin bureau. “His news judgment was unmatched, and therefore unquestioned.”

During his time at the Houston Post, where he worked from 1981 to 1995, Gravois was “a straight-down-the-line journalist,” recalled his former colleague Ken Herman. “He cared about the craft and he cared about doing it the right way.” He was quickly promoted to City Hall and then the Austin bureau, where he marveled at the often raucous Texas Legislature.

During the 1990 gubernatorial campaign, a slugfest between Democrat Ann Richards and Republican Clayton Williams, a couple of ever-quotable combatants, Gravois was among a small handful of reporters invited by Williams for an outing at his West Texas ranch.

Gravois was promoted to the Washington bureau after only two years in Austin. He was at the White House the night President George H.W. Bush launched military operations during the first Gulf War, covered the signing of a nuclear treaty in the Kremlin in Moscow, and traveled with President Bill Clinton on a 1,000 mile bus tour to kick off his 1992 campaign.

He joined the Star-Telegram in 1995. Gravois loved every detail of Texas politics, said Star-Telegram columnist Bud Kennedy. He had an ability to take even the most minute boring detail or function of government and make it fascinating, because he focused on the people and the characters that made it interesting, Kennedy said.

He left the Star-Telegram in 2017 for a position as a politics editor at the Houston Chronicle before coming back to the Metroplex to work at The Dallas Morning News.

Gravois is survived by his wife Suzanne, two children, three grandchildren and numerous other relatives.

Following visitation and funeral mass at St. Jude Catholic Church in Mansfield, Louisiana, Nov. 21, final visitation and funeral mass were held Dec. 5 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home in New Orleans.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Nicholls State University Mass Communication department or the Baylor Scott & White Simmons Transplant Institute in Dallas.

TOM HAWKINS

GROESBECK – Longtime journalist, former owner and editor of the Grosbeak Journal Tom Hawkins died Nov. 15. He was 85.

A native of Groesbeck, Hawkins was a tireless community supporter.

He was born May 13, 1940 to Muleta and Jack Hawkins. After high school graduation in Groesbeck, Hawkins attended Southwestern University, completing his degree in 1962. Following two years of military service with the Air Force, he returned home to run the family business, his hometown newspaper that would become his life’s work. For decades, he helped guide the Groesbeck Journal with dedication, integrity and a deep understanding of the community it served. The newspaper was owned by the Hawkins family for 84 years.

His influence extended beyond the newsroom. He was active in the Groesbeck Ex-Students Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club. He was also a devoted member of the First Methodist Church of Groesbeck.

Although he officially stepped back from the Journal in recent years, his influence remained. His visits to the office, checking in on the staff, offering a story idea or a gentle nudge were reminders of the foundation he laid.

Hawkins moved to Gateway Gardens in Marble Falls two and a half years ago.

He is survived by his sister, brother, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Funeral services were held Nov. 20 at First Methodist Church in Groesbeck with burial in the Fort Parker Cemetery.

The family requests memorials be made to the First Methodist Church of Groesbeck or the Groesbeck Ex-StudentsAssociation.

(Excerpts from a memorial published in the Groesbeck Journal Nov. 20.)

CARLOS ALEXANDER MENDEZ

ARLINGTON – Carlos Alexander Mendez, who covered sports for the Fort Worth Star Telegram for almost 20 years, has died at age 57.

Mendez was born April 17, 1968, in San Angelo and died Nov. 7 at Medical Center Arlington in Arlington.

Mendez discovered journalism in high school and studied journalism and communications at Angelo State University, working as a sportswriter for the San Angelo Standard-Times through college and beyond.

He received multiple writing awards, including being named one of the Top 10 Sports Feature Writers in the United States.

After leaving the Standard-Times, Mendez worked as a sports copy editor at the San Antonio Express News for a year before accepting a job at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he spent almost 20 years covering high school sports, the Texas Rangers, NASCAR, the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Christian University. He then went to work as a researcher and writer for Panini America, where he has spent the last seven years.

Mendez married Cynthia Sellman on Dec. 20, 1997. She  survives him, along with three children.

A celebration of life service was held Nov. 12 at CrossPoint Church of Christ in Grand Prairie.