During traditional ceremonies at the recent TPA Convention and Trade Show, the gavel of the Texas Press Association presidency passed to Leonard Woolsey, (right) TPA's 144th leader. He succeeds Jim Bardwell, who becomes chairman of the TPA board. Also shown is former president Ramona Ferguson, who retired as chairman.
SAN MARCOS – Leonard Woolsey accepted the gavel as president of the Texas Press Association during traditional installation ceremonies at the 2022 TPA Convention and Trade Show.
Woolsey, publisher of The Daily News, Galveston, is the association’s 144th president and succeeds Jim Bardwell, who becomes chairman of the board of directors.
Because of the transition back to summer annual meetings, Bardwell served 18 months as president. He expressed appreciation for the support of his TPA family throughout his term, especially since the tragic loss of his wife, Suzanne, in January.
Sweepstakes winners in the 2020-21 Texas Better Newspaper Contest include (from left) Longview News-Journal in Division 2, represented by Becky Cooper, managing editor of the Victoria Advocate, a sister newspaper; Hood County News in Division 3, represented by Publisher Sam Houston; El Campo Leader-News in Division 4, represented by Publisher Shannon Crabtree; Port Aransas South Jetty in Division 5, represented by Terry Fitzwater, Kingsville Record publisher; Beeville Bee Picayune, represented by Kevin Keller, content director, in Division 6; and Hill Country News Weekender in Division 8, r
SAN MARCOS — Winners in the 2020-21 Texas Better Newspaper Contest were announced July 30 in the closing event of the annual Texas Press Association Convention and Trade Show.
Sweepstakes winners were The Longview News Journal in Division 2 dailies; Hood County News, Granbury, in Division 3 semiweeklies; El Campo Leader-News, Division 4 semiweeklies; and weeklies Port Aransas South Jetty in Division 5, Beeville Bee Picayune in Division 7, Hill Country News Weekender in Division 8 and The Clarendon Enterprise in Division 9.
BRENHAM – Jeff Parra is the new publisher of The Banner-Press in Brenham.
Fred Hartman, general partner, announced the appointment, praising Parra's experience and leadership.
A veteran of nearly three decades in the newspaper industry, Parra replaced Derek Hall.
A graduate of Kansas State University, Parra also attended Blinn College in Brenham in 1981-82 and said he looks forward to getting reacquainted with and involved in the community.
PORT ARANSAS – Port Aransas South Jetty news editor Dan Parker has been promoted to editor, and general manager Kelli Hartig is taking on responsibilities more in keeping with her title.
Owners Mary Henkel and Murray Judson will remain as co-publishers while turning over leadership of the day-to-day operations of the newspaper to Parker and Hartig.
Parker, 61, is a native of Port Aransas. He has been a reporter and photographer at the South Jetty since June 2006. He became news editor in March 2015.
Members are gearing up for the annual Texas Press Association Convention and Trade Show later this month, where in addition to industry sessions, awards and networking opportunities, new officers and board members will be elected and installed to reorganize for 2022-23.
Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel, Convention Center and Spa is headquarters for the July 28-30 event.
As more questions arise about the actions of law enforcement responding to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde May 24, some state and local officials have stopped responding to open records requests about the investigations into the massacre.
News outlets across the state and the country have reported their public information requests are being stalled or denied.
On June 23, the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas released a statement regarding the issue.
In the weeks following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, when 19 children and two teachers were killed and 17 other adults and children were injured, official stories have changed, information released by various agencies has been corrected and/or retracted and law enforcement’s actions have been scrutinized, prompting some state and local officials to stop releasing public records related to investigations into the massacre.
Staff additions, promotions and other changes at Texas newspapers as reported in the July 2022 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.