Texas Press Association

06/23/2026

06/23/2026

During the 2026 TPA Convention and Trade Show, members enjoyed a trip to the C.R. Smith Flight Museum at the Dallas DFW International Airport.

06/20/2026

The Texas Newspaper Foundation honored the late William Blair Jr., long-time publisher of the Elite News of Dallas, with induction into the TNF Hall of Fame with the Class of 2026. A World War II veteran, Blair also had a baseball career as a pitcher with the Negro Baseball League from 1946 to 1951. When an injury ended his baseball career, Blair turned to sports reporting and later news and community reporting in Dallas. Shown at the awards luncheon are (from left) TPA Executive Vice President Donnis Baggett, family friend and fellow journalist Gail Williams, Debra Blair Abron, daughter of the honoree, and TNF President Greg Shrader. In addition to the crystal HOIF award, Mrs. Abron was presented with a vintage baseball signed by members of the Negro Baseball League. The ball was a donation from John Starkey of Rambler Texas Media.

06/20/2026

Randy Mankin, publisher of the Eldorado Success, the Big Lake Wildcat and Devil's River News and a TPA past president, was inducted into the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame with the Class of 2026. Accepting the award with him was his wife, Kathy. TFN President Greg Shrader presented the award at the Hall of Fame luncheon during the TPA Convention and Trade Show in Dallas.

06/20/2026

The family of the late Burl Osborn, award-winning former editor and publisher of The Dallas Morning News, was on hand Friday for the Hall of Fame award luncheon when he was inducted with the Class of 2026. His widow, Betty Osborn, accepted the award from Texas Newspaper Foundation President Greg Shrader.

06/20/2026

Sally Sexton of the Weatherford Democrat is the winner of the Center for Integrity in News Reporting $5,000 cash prize for unbiased reporting. CFINR Executive Director Rufus Friday presented the award at the Hall of Fame awards luncheon during the TPA Convention and Trade Show in Dallas. There were 14 entries for the Texas award.

06/19/2026

A passel of vintage button rings has been donated to the Silent Auction by John Starkey of Rambler Texas Media. The rings are made from vintage buttons dating to the 1940s through 1960s. Come see these and other unique items in the auction at the Texas Press Association Convention and Trade Show at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport Hotel. Visit our vendors and show for a good cause in one stop. The auction benefits the Texas Newspaper Foundation.

06/18/2026

The FOIFT Open Government seminar this afternoon is well attended. Tom Williams, an FOI Foundation board member and a partner in the Fort Worth office of Haynes & Boone, LLP, presents training on the Texas Open Meetings Act. The seminar, co-sponsored by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the Texas Attorney General's office, will also feature a session on the Texas Open Records Act by Tamara Smith, Open Records Division chief with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.