AUSTIN — The Texas Newspaper Foundation has selected four exemplary journalists – William Blair Jr., Randy Mankin, Frank Mayborn and Burl Osborne — for induction into the Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame in June.
The induction ceremony will take place during the Texas Press Association 2026 Convention and Trade Show Hall of Fame banquet at Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport at 11:45 a.m. Friday, June 19.
Register now for the Texas Press Association Convention & Trade Show June 18-20 at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport Hotel.
Registration forms and information are available online at www.texaspress.com.
The three-day event includes the annual trade show, the Hall of Fame and Golden 50 Award luncheon and a full slate of industry sessions, as well as an excursion to the American Airlines CR Smith Flight Museum. (See Page 4 for a full agenda.)
After about five years of providing the Gatesville community with weekly local news, the April 25 edition of The Gatesville Messenger marks the last newspaper parent company Hyde Media will produce before ownership transfers to the Copperas Cove Leader Press.
By ALLY HINKLE, ally@gatesvillemessenger.com
This transfer of ownership is the result of a fire that destroyed the Messenger’s physical building Monday, March 16, claiming the Messenger’s archives and equipment.
NEW BRAUNFELS – Elizabeth Engelhardt will succeed Neice Bell as publisher of the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.
Engelhardt is also publisher of the Seguin Gazette, a role she will continue.
Engelhardt started her newspaper career at the Herald-Zeitung as an advertising account manager in 2013, working with Bell. She said this is a full-circle for her career as she takes over for Bell, who is retiring May 29. Engelhardt said that throughout her career, Bell has demonstrated what leadership means and helped prepare her for this next chapter.
KINGSVILLE – Dylan Dozier has been named publisher of the Kingsville Record, returning to the community after most recently serving as editor of the Beeville Bee-Picayune and the Karnes Countywide.
PILOT POINT – North and East Texas Press Association members gathered on the shore of Lake Ray Roberts for their 99th annual convention.
The meeting featured informative industry sessions and programs, including a chance for members to show off their artistic talents, as well as award presentations and annual fund raisers such as the golf tournament, bingo and the “It’s for the Children” scholarship benefit auction.
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.
Journalists throughout Texas and across the U.S. lost a mentor and cheerleader with the death March 23 of Griff Singer, retired UT professor who trained and encouraged generations of Daily Texan staff members and students.
He was 93.
Some of the many remembrances are from The Friends of the Daily Texan and UT Moody College of Communication.
The city of Gatesville was drastically changed after a massive fire broke out in the downtown area, taking out nearly an entire city block and multiple historic businesses. The fire was originally reported to Gatesville authorities about 6:50 p.m. Monday, March 16, on the southwest corner of the courthouse square, located at the 100 block of South Sixth Street near the Coryell County Sheriff’s Office. The fire burned late into the morning of Tuesday, March 17, with reports of the building still smoldering as late as March 24.
The Gatesville Messenger has long been regarded as the premier chronicler of local history. The Messenger has often been described as having “deep roots” in the community and has been considered a cornerstone and a record of the history of Coryell County for well over a century. Those “chronicles” were lost Monday, March 16, when a fire destroyed the block of buildings that included The Messenger. All its newspaper archives were lost.
By DAVID SCOTT, editor@gatesvillemessenger.com