Michael Martin Murphey headlines Convention & Trade Show activities

COLLEGE STATION — Michael Martin Murphey will showcase his legendary musical skills in an exclusive appearance for Texas Press Association members during the June 20-22 TPA Convention and Trade Show in College Station. Murphey’s performance will highlight a barbecue dinner for TPA members on the evening of Friday, June 21, at the Lucky B Bison Ranch.

TPA Executive Director Mike Hodges and his wife, Ilene, have been in talks with Murphey and his staff for more than a year. “Michael said from the get-go that he would absolutely love to do a show for Texas newspaper folks,” Hodges said. “His touring schedule is very tight, however, and it was tough for him to make it work. We’re thrilled that he was able to do so, and we’re excited about this special evening.”

Murphey, a native Texan, has defied categorization over his 50-year career. His music has topped the charts in pop, country, western and bluegrass genres. He is best known for his hits “Wildfire,” “Carolina In The Pines,” “What’s Forever For,” “Long Line of Love,” “Geronimo’s Cadillac” and “Cowboy Logic.”

Songs penned by Murphey have been recorded by The Monkees, Kenny Rogers, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Denver, Hoyt Axton, Johnny Cash, Tracy Byrd, Lyle Lovett, Jerry Jeff Walker, Dolly Parton, Johnny Rivers and Billy Ray Cyrus, and others.  

The day before the Michael Martin Murphey concert, TPA members can play an outstanding collegiate course when the Golf Club at Texas A&M University hosts the annual Robert Burns Memorial Golf Tournament.

Tee time is 9 a.m. June 20 at the course located at the main entrance to the A&M campus. Brightspeed sponsors the event.

Cost is $100 per player, which includes cart and practice balls. Registration forms are available on the TPA website convention registration page, www.texaspress.com/convention-registration, and on the Texas Newspaper Foundation, www.tnf.net/golf-tournament.

The campus golf course opened for play in 1951 and was originally designed by course architect Ralph Plummer. Plummer’s works included Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Champions Golf Club in Houston, and Dallas Athletic Club. In 2013  the A&M course underwent a complete renovation. The result is a par 71, 7,008 yard gem designed by A&M’s own Jeff Blume.

The Burns Memorial golf tournament benefits the Texas Newspaper Foundation and is the kickoff event of the 2024 TPA Convention & Trade Show at the Hilton College Station Hotel & Conference Center.

The Trade Show opens Thursday evening with a reception at 5:30 p.m. TPA members may visit with a variety of vendors displaying and demonstrating services and products, and will have the opportunity to shop at the annual silent auction. The auction also benefits the Texas Newspaper Foundation, which sponsors the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame and the Texas Center for Community Journalism at Tarleton State University. To donate items for the auction, contact Sue Brown at TPA.

On Friday morning, June 21, the Trade Show and Silent Auction open at 7:30 a.m., starting a full day of activities. The Trade Show concludes at 11 a.m. and bidding closes in the silent auction at 11:15 a.m., when winners may collect their items.

The Hall of Fame and Golden 50 awards luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m. Friday, followed by general sessions featuring industry topics from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Murphey’s concert and barbecue dinner at the bison ranch conclude Friday’s schedule.

Saturday, June 22, activities open at 8:30 a.m. with the general membership assembly, when members will vote on a slate of new officers and hear reports. General sessions continue until 10:30 a.m. The Texas Better Newspaper Contest Awards banquet at 11 a.m. will feature the Mayborn Award, installation of new officers and the contest awards.

Registration is open now on the TPA website, www.texaspress.com/convention-registration.