HOUSTON – Longview News-Journal Sports Editor Jack Stallard was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor with the 2026 class of four East Texans who have made extraordinary contributions to high school athletics.
Induction ceremonies were held July 19 in Houston July 19 during the THSCA Coaching School and Convention.
Promotions, new hires and other employment news as reporting by Texas newspapers and published in the August 2026 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.
Elgin Courier newsroom changes announced
ELGIN – The Elgin Courier recently shuffled some newsroom roles.
Reporter Emily Treadway is now the area editor for the Centex Group, which includes the Courier, the Taylor Press and the Manor Journal.
Former Area Editor Jason Chlapek has switched to the digital editor role.
Promotions, new hires and other employment news as reporting by Texas newspapers and published in the August 2026 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.
Elgin Courier newsroom changes announced
ELGIN – The Elgin Courier recently shuffled some newsroom roles.
Reporter Emily Treadway is now the area editor for the Centex Group, which includes the Courier, the Taylor Press and the Manor Journal.
Former Area Editor Jason Chlapek has switched to the digital editor role.
Obituaries published in the August 2026 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.
Christelle Troell
PLEASANTON – Christelle Troell, who worked on and off for the Pleasanton Express for more than 50 years, died June 27. She was a former news editor and photographer who covered meetings and continued to contribute until her passing.
She was hired — part time at first — when the Wilkerson family purchased the Express. Then Bill Wilkerson assigned her to take photos when no one else was available.
DALLAS – Veteran editor and publisher Yvonne Mintz accepted the gavel as the 147th president of the Texas Press Association at the group’s annual convention.
Mintz is editor and publisher of The Facts in Brazoria County and vice president of Southern Newspapers, Inc. with oversight of the newspapers in Bay City, Baytown, Nacogdoches and Lufkin.
She succeeds Lisa Chappell, regional executive for Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. and publisher of the Greenville Herald Banner as well as ten sister newspapers in Texas and Oklahoma.
DALLAS – Sally Sexton, editor of the Weatherford Democrat, took home a $5,000 cash prize in the first Texas award for unbiased reporting from the Center For Integrity in News Reporting.
CFINR Executive Director Rufus Friday presented the award at the Hall of Fame awards luncheon during the TPA Convention & Trade Show in Dallas.
In making the presentation, Friday highlighted the judges’ comments on Sexton’s work:
“This is a prime example of how to handle an important and emotionally difficult story with solid reporting, objectivity and fairness.
DALLAS – Greg Shrader, president of the Texas Newspaper Foundation, presented the 2026 class of inductees into the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame.
Members of the class inducted during the Hall of Fame Awards luncheon at the TPA Convention & Trade Show in Dallas are:
William Blair Jr.
Oct. 17, 1921- Apr. 20, 2014
Texas Press Association honored Collyn Wright, editor of the Menard News and Messenger, with the Frank W. Mayborn Award for Community Service. Wright accepted the award at the recent TPA Convention & Trade Show in Dallas.
The honor is presented annually to a newspaper executive who contributed most significantly to society during the past year, exhibiting outstanding and exemplary leadership to the community and reflecting credit upon the newspaper business.
PEARSALL – Frio-Nueces Current managing editor Manuel Azocar III and business manager Kasie Rendon have purchased the newspaper from longtime owner and publisher Craig Garnett.
The sale, which became effective June 1, leaves the new owners in charge of all operations — reporting, advertising sales and distribution. The newspaper operates with a staff of five, plus delivery personnel.
The historic Foard County News is once again serving readers across Foard County after being acquired by Lance Publishing LLC and returned to publication earlier this year.
Shane Lance, owner of Lance Publishing LLC and publisher of the Quanah Tribune-Chief, purchased the Foard County News from longtime owner Kent Smith following the newspaper’s closure in January.