Donald P. Moore was born in Dayton as the son of a Texas newspaperman. So it should not come as a surprise he chose community newspapers as a career. After 55 years of rolling and throwing papers, shooting photos, writing stories, selling ads and managing others in doing the same, the veteran newspaperman decided to retire in July.
Moore employed a concept in dealing with readers and advertisers over the years that served him well. He always tried to find a way to say “Yes.”
HEARNE – Teresa Phillips has taken over as publisher of the Robertson County News and the Franklin Advocate, succeeding her husband, Dennis, who noted he is taking on a smaller role as managing editor.
The couple formed Phillips Publishing, LLC, in late 2020 when they acquired the two Robertson County newspapers from Moser Community Media. At that time, Dennis Phillips had been publisher and Teresa Phillips had been associate publisher since 2012.
ARCHER CITY – Archer County News Editor Nathan Lawson has been promoted to publisher.
Lawson joined the newspaper in June 2020 and succeeds Jerry Phillips, who has chosen to move into a reduced role with the newspaper. Phillips said he will still be heavily involved in the community and will continue to serve as community interests reporter for the newspaper.
Promotions, staff additions and other recent changes at Texas newspapers.
After 147 years of covering the local community, the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald ceased publication with the July 15 edition.
The Bass, Wright and Reeves families have managed the newspaper for the past 69 years.
“It breaks my heart to close the business, but it is no longer financially sustainable,” Susan Reeves, current publisher, said.
OLTON – The Olton Enterprise published its last edition June 25, 96 years after L.L. Kyle started the paper and 14 years after publishers Phillip and Ursula Hamilton rescued the publication from an even earlier demise.
The Hamiltons announced June 4 the newspaper was for sale but they were unable to find a buyer by the end of the month.
First printed on Thursday, Feb. 18, 1926 by Kyle, the Enterprise was the oldest continually operating business in Olton and believed to be the oldest business in Lamb County.
WALLIS – Johnny and Joanie Griffin announced the June 3 edition of the Wallis News-Review would be the newspaper’s last.
They put the newspaper up for sale earlier in the spring with a goal of retiring in June.
“We have been unsuccessful in finding a new owner to continue publishing the newspaper,” Johnny Griffin said in a June 8 announcement on Facebook.
The Wallis News-Review was started in 1974 by Ray and Maridel Dungen and managed in Wallis for many years by Lucille Jemela.
All are longtime friends of the Griffins, who purchased the newspaper in 2006.
The long-anticipated awards in the 2019-20 Texas Better Newspaper Contest were presented during the closing event at the TPA Convention and Trade Show in Denton.
The 2019-20 contest included material published between Sept. 1, 2019 and Aug. 31, 2020. The awards presentation was originally scheduled in January but postponed to June 12 along with the annual convention. Ninety newspapers submitted 934 entries in the 2019-20 contest.
By Scott Yates, JournalList.net
DENTON – Jim Bardwell received the gavel of Texas Press Association presidential leadership from a long line of predecessors at the 141st TPA Convention and Trade Show in Denton.
The traditional passing of the gavel was followed by the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame ceremonies featuring a surprise guest speaker. Inducted were Charles Moser, Brenham Banner-Press; the late Morris Roberts, publisher of the Victoria Advocate and Founder of M. Roberts Media; Don Richards, lifelong newspaperman and attorney; and Tommy Thomason, founding director of the Texas Center for Community Journalism.