Posted on
Friday, August 22, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tyler Paper Bids Farewell To 4 Longtime Employees
By GREG JUNEK
Dayside Editor
Four people representing 150 years spent with the Tyler Morning Telegraph were lauded for their work during a reception at the newspaper Thursday, one day before their retirement.
Dayside Editor
Four people representing 150 years spent with the Tyler Morning Telegraph were lauded for their work during a reception at the newspaper Thursday, one day before their retirement.
Everett Taylor, editor in chief; Jerry Hargrove, facilities supervisor; Gene Strickland, dayside editor; and Barbara Holbert, classified display advertising supervisor, will retire today. Manage-ment and employees wished them well, and some inquired about their years spent with the newspaper.
"These four individuals represent 150 years of experience with our organization," said Nelson Clyde IV, publisher of the Tyler Morning Telegraph and president of T.B. Butler Publishing Co. "They have been a credit to the Tyler Paper and the community it serves. We will miss them very much and are grateful for their exemplary service record."
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Calvin Clyde Jr., chairman of the board, who said his involvement with the Tyler Paper dates to early 1937, drew a hearty round of laughter when he joked that the "newcomers" had a secret that he had not found in his 71 years at the paper -- a way to leave.
"I do want to thank these people as well as most of the rest of you in the room for having made me a better living than I was able to make you," Clyde said. "I mean that sincerely. I can't think of any way to express it any more honestly or clearly than that."
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Taylor worked for the newspaper for 57 years, starting in 1951, shortly after it moved into its current location. He was the main editorial writer.
He also wrote "Taylor's Yarns," a column for the Sunday paper.
Sen. John Cornyn, who stopped by the newspaper during a trip to Tyler on Thursday, said he wished Taylor the best on the long and productive retirement he deserved.
"Everett has been a pillar of the East Texas community since the beginning of time or at least as long as any of us can remember," he said. "If I thought he was really leaving, I would be worried, but I know we will continue to benefit from his wisdom, in one way or another, for years to come."
A World War II veteran, Taylor served in the Army from 1944-1946. He married the former Jimmie Lee Clanton in 1949.
He earned his bachelor's degree in 1950 from Baylor University, where he served as editor of the campus newspaper, the Lariat, in 1949-1950.
Before moving to Tyler, Taylor was editor of the Eastland Daily Telegram for a year.
He moved from a reporting/ copy desk position to wire editor to managing editor of the Tyler Morning Telegraph by 1953. He became executive editor in 1969 and in 1977 he was president of the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Association.
During this period, he received Associated Press awards for headline writing, feature writing, page one make-up and editorial writing. In 1977 he received the Texas Freedom Award from the Texas Professional Educators and in 1981 the Smith County Bar Association honored him with the Liberty Bell Award.
In 1985, Taylor was the recipient of the Texas Baptist Communications Award.
The Taylors have four children, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. They are members of First Baptist Church.
Hargrove began working for the newspaper in 1962 in the mailroom.
He gravitated toward the maintenance end of the operation, serving as a Linotype machinist and later as a computer maintenance person. Hargrove later worked in building maintenance.
Later, after a second stint in computer maintenance, he moved back to building maintenance and stayed in that department until he retired.
Hargrove recalled the days when a newspaper operation could be a bit more dangerous than it is now. He said the Linotype machines, which used molten lead in setting the type, were especially dangerous.
He also recalled a time when the newspaper used a large mainframe computer to handle all operations.
"When it went down, you couldn't get the paper out," Hargrove said.
A couple of times when the computer was partially on the fritz, Hargrove spent a few nights sleeping in the computer room, just to be available quickly if needed.
Hargrove and his wife, Rita, have one son and one grandchild.
Strickland began working at the Tyler Paper in 1971 as a sports writer. The next year he moved to the news side, where he held jobs as a wire editor, reporter, city editor and feature writer. He also served as food editor and wrote sports columns, some of which he said helped spur the Tyler Independent School District to start a high school soccer program.
He left in 1981 and went to work in public relations. The next year he was back at the Tyler Paper as a wire editor. He has since held the jobs of city editor, news editor and dayside editor.
He and his wife, the former Billie Sue Laws of Jacksonville, have two children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
They attend Rice Road Church of Christ.
Ms. Holbert started her work in 1977 as a classified advertising representative. She retired as a classified display advertising supervisor.
Ms. Holbert started her work in 1977 as a classified advertising representative. She retired as a classified display advertising supervisor.
A Tyler native, she graduated from John Tyler High School and Tyler Junior College. She attended The University of Texas at Tyler, working toward a journalism degree.
Ms. Holbert is a member of Asbury United Methodist Church. She has two daughters, one granddaughter and one grandson.
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