TPA president says good-bye to year not to forget

Phil Major
Phil's Philosophy
TPA President 2007-08

This has been a year I will not soon forget. It had its highlights and a few low spots, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. And now it’s time to speak with you for the last time as TPA president. Can you believe you elected a guy who once looked like this and doesn’t eat meat!

First I can report that the state of TPA is strong, thanks to a healthy membership base that is served in an extraordinary manner by a professional staff second to none. They fight many battles on our behalf daily. They will lend an ear, a hand, or just about anything else members might need. There may not be many bargains left in this world, but a TPA membership is at the top of that list.

Second I want to give a nod to my fellow officers and directors for support, advice, and encouragement throughout the year. There is an amazing amount of knowledge and experience represented on your board.

Third I should not let it pass without noting the sacrifices made by those impacted by our many absences back home at our newspaper and in the community. They shared in this year as well.

And a tip of the hat to my fellow Longhorns. By my count I am the 18th TPA president to represent the University of Texas. It is a tradition I am proud to continue.

Here’s a few highlights of the year:

It began by returning to the regional association that gave me my start in association leadership when West Texas Press met in July. (I still have an unexpired director’s term on my record, sorry about that.)

We got to celebrate the major life change by ad director Ken Long as he ended his longtime association with TPA and answered a higher calling.

Next I had the privilege of carrying the Texas flag in the NNA procession with a president from my state, and friend, Jerry Tidwell, presiding.

We represented TPA at the funeral of former executive director Lyndell Williams, who is chiefly responsible for the continuing strength and success of this association.

What a thrill to announce Brandi Guy’s son Dylan as a first timer at his first convention (TPA Midwinter) only a few weeks after he was born.

We returned to the site of our first newspaper association convention in Tyler (NETPA-1984) and the association that gave me a chance to serve as an officer, and my first better newspaper contest award.

I had an opportunity to visit briefly with Sylvia Beesley at NETPA. When her husband Tom died last fall after a tragic accident, this business lost one of the good ones.

Glenn Rea, STPA convention chairman, gets the award for best surprise at a regional convention, viewing fireworks from the Strauss Haus on Friday night.

We wrapped up the year in a Port Aransas condo, another tough assignment.

We spent 38 nights away from home, ate more than 100 meals in hotels, restaurants and airports, flew nearly 6,000 miles and drove another 5,300 on your behalf.

And except for one storm delay on the ground in Dallas, the travel was thankfully uneventful.

We ate too many good meals which surely resulted in adding a few pounds.

We spent a lot of quality time with some of the best people in the world, and that alone was worth the time, effort and sacrifice.

And as you can see, in many ways this year represents coming full circle, capping a career that truly had meager beginnings with a mimeograph machine in my Dad’s office 42 years ago.

But most importantly, I want to say as best I can that representing the men and women of Texas community newspapers is an honor far above anything I, or anyone else in this business, could ever earn or deserve.

That a group could judge me, or anyone, worthy of this is beyond my comprehension.

You are the backbone of your towns, of our wonderful state and of the greatest nation on earth.

Thanking you for what you do, what you represent and allowing me to be a part of that doesn’t seem nearly enough.