We're the 4th Estate.
We PRESS On!
It's going to take more than a lil' old worldwide
pandemic to stop us.
Dan Parker, news editor of the Port Aransas South Jetty and 1st vice president of the South Texas Press Association, is quite the picture of the times in his journalist's personal protective equipment ready to tackle what the day may bring during this COVID-19 pandemic. Parker recently had to shift gears from planning our annual, in-person convention to instead organizing and hosting South Texas Press Association's first virtual convention.
That's right ... VIRTUAL. Out of an abundance of caution with regard to the novel coronavirus, we will not be able to wiggle our toes in the sand this year. That doesn't mean, however, that the pandemic is going to stop our group from getting together -- cyber style.
STPA Makes Plans to Go Cyber
All Dues-Paying STPA Members Offered Free Virtual Attendance
To Aug. 7 Speaker's Session, Awards, Strauss Haus Social
Normally, by this point in the summer, the STPA annual convention would be about two months and then some in our rear view mirrors. After a couple of disappointing choices to kick the can down the road, our STPA Board of Directors finally came to the heartache of a decision that postponement would not be enough this year. Instead, we would have to cancel our plans for a regular, face-to-face convention. (Thanks, COVID-19!)
But we're journalists and community journalists at that! And, so the ink coursing through our veins simply doesn't leave room for even a drop of "give up." We
have an ingrained ability to press on.
That's when we broached the idea of still having a condensed version of our well-planned get-together by Zoom or some other virtual meeting set-up.
Thanks to the hard work of STPA 1st Vice President Dan Parker (news editor of the Port Aransas South Jetty), he managed to do yet one more adjustment and get things fixed up. We have a 2020 schedule, albeit one that's all on one day and one for which we never have to leave our homes or offices.
Here are a few things you'll want to note:
All dues paying members will be notified soon of the log-in procedures and directoins on how to join the STPA virtual convention. Watch for the notice!
DUES must be paid by July 30, 2020, to qualify your newspaper for free attendance to the virtual convention.
Dues for 2020 are $75
Send to:
STPA Treasurer Jeff Berger
P.O. Box 400
Hondo, TX 78861
Featured speaker Mike Blinder will offer some wise words in a two-pronged presentation beneficial to both the news side and advertising side of your business.
Members will hear an annual update from the Texas Press Association, while STPA also will
conduct its annual members' business meeting.
While registration is free this year, it's the perfect chance to allow all your staff members to enjoy the STPA speaker and awards ceremony.
Let's raise a glass together to toast our dearest STPA friends -- old
and new!
Sam Fore Keach
Sam Fore Keach, a Robstown area resident for all but three of his 75 years, died April 24, 2020.
He was former editor of The Robstown Record (later The Nueces County Record Star), beginning his newspaper work as a “printer’s devil” and photographer at 12 years old.
A 1963 graduate of Robstown High School, he earned his bachelor of journalism degree in 1966 from The University of Texas. While at UT, he was managing editor of The Daily Texan and worked on the sports and news staff, covering some of Darrell K. Royal’s greatest moments with the Longhorns on the gridiron and in the locker room.
At 21, he became managing editor of The Edinburg Daily Review and returned to the family’s Robstown newspaper in 1967. He was one of four generations of his family to serve as president of the South Texas Press Association. He authored the book “A Family Affair - the First 75 years of the South Texas Press Association,” published in 2002. He served as the association’s historian until his death.
His community service included scoutmaster of Robstown’s Boy Scout Troop 184 where both of Vicki’s and his sons earned the Eagle Scout Award. In 1983, he was scoutmaster of the South Texas troop to the World Jamboree in Canada. He was Wood Badge trained, a vigil member of the Order of the Arrow and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award.
He also served on the boards of Nueces County Memorial Hospital, Northwest Regional Hospital, Robstown Area Historical Museum and Robstown Economic Development Commission.
He was also a driving force in the development of the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds.
The Nueces County Keach Family Library was named in honor of him and his family’s 80 years in journalism,
informing the public, and encouraging the continuation of education of youth in the area.
He was preceded in death by his son, Sam Fore Keach Jr. in 2017.
He is survived by his wife of over 57 years, Vicki Jackson Keach; a daughter, Kim Keach Eddy (Morris) of Kendalia, TX; a son, Darrell Keach (Wendy) of Corpus Christi and a daughter-in-law, Kristy Champagne Keach of George West;
seven grandchildren who knew him as Pop Pop, Chris Keach Krueger, Katelyn Keach, Kailey Keach, Casey Keach, Weston Keach, Aaron Eddy and Audra Eddy Imes; and great-grandsons, Jaxen Krueger, Lance Easter and Montgomery Eddy. He also had a special love for Mark and Sue Salter and their children, Christina Jarding, Sophia Keach Salter, Julia Salter and Jack Salter of Sioux Falls, SD, who considered him their grandfather.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Robstown Area Historical Museum, the South Texas Press Association Scholarship Fund or the Texas Newspaper Foundation.
A private graveside service will be held at Robstown Memorial Park with the Rev. Jeff Hammond, pastor of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg officiating.
A Celebration of Life is being planned for a future date.
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