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.

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.

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.

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.

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.