Long-time publisher, lifelong Baptist ...
GEORGE HAWKES, 1916-2004
by O.K. Carter
For many SPJ members, the death last month of former Arlington Citizen-Journal publisher George Hawkes was more than the passing of another Texas journalistic legend, though it was indeed that. The ever-frugal Hawkes had a gift for recognizing talent and hiring it before it became too expensive, a talent that parlayed the C-J into the most award-winning weekly newspaper in Texas history.
The list of journalists or other media members who, fresh out of college, compiled their first set of professional clips while working at the C-J is enormous, including Griff Singer, Donna Darovich, Kenny Hand, Carter Hinshaw, Roger Summers, Dan Van Cleve, Cathy O'Neal and a plethora of others. "It's practically impossible to attend a meeting of media pros in the Metroplex and mention that you once worked at the Citizen-Journal without hearing a 'so did I' chorus," Darovich said.
Hawkes, a former Texas Press Association president, and another now-deceased SPJ chapter legend, Staley McBrayer, a former SPJ national president, recognized early in their careers that both the population and the wealth of the Metroplex was moving to the suburbs. There they did battle, though always with civility, mutual respect and what might be described as Old South charm.
Call the battle a draw. In the end they succeeded so well that they were afforded the ultimate compliment by the two media giants of the region. Belo Corp. bought McBrayer's News Texas chain, and Carter Publications purchased the C-J. Over time, the C-J evolved into the Arlington Star-Telegram, with Hawkes being considered the paper's publisher emeritus until his death. He was publisher from 1946 through 1977.
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MEETINGS
Getting to Know You: Using Speed Networking to Work a Room
It's hard to learn the names and get acquainted with all the people you'd like to at any professional gathering. At the July meeting, participants will eat (always good networking activity), then have a chance to spend quality time with a few more folks one-on-one. Bring those business cards, résumés, brochures, etc., and prepare that elevator speech for "speed networking."
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, July 6
Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor
Parking: $2.50 in parking garage at Seventh and Commerce streets (get ticket validated)
Cost: $17 members, $25 nonmembers, $12 students
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Embracing Risk: Go Ahead, It's Good for You
Being in the communications business requires a daily roll of the dice, whether it's calling reporters to get a story placed or pushing clients to think outside the box. Ruth Cogswell, president of Strategic Communications Partners and a former network news assignments editor and presidential press secretary, will challenge those at the July meeting to embrace risk taking as a way to grow their skills and boost their company's image. Every economic downturn launches a cycle of change -- PR pros cannot always operate in the same fashion and be successful.
Cogswell served in four presidential campaigns, as well as in the White House press office under President Jimmy Carter. She was a producer and assignments editor for ABC, CNN and Fisher Broadcasting and served as the trip director for the 1984 Olympic torch relay. She works with a variety of corporate clients, including the Kimbell Art Foundation, Home Box Office and TXI.
Time & date: 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, July 14
Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor
Parking: free valet in parking garage at Seventh and Commerce streets (get ticket validated)
Cost: $20 members, $23 nonmembers, $18 students
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Party Hardee! Hardee Party!
The good-times caravan that is the SPJ Summertime Beer Bust, Grape Gala and Burnt & Barbecued Ribfest Overlooking the Nude Beach III rolls to Grand Prairie this year for an evening to be remembered at Gary and Cami Hardee's house. As always, expect no nudity and no beach but virtuous vittles from grilling guru Ron Holcomb and a little live music.
Two extras: The price has gone down, and your gracious hosts have a pool, although they advise that any children in the crowd should bring their own life preservers, floaties and vigilant parents to watch them carefully.
Date & time: Saturday, July 17; mingling starts 6 p.m.
Place: 3606 Oakmont Drive, Grand Prairie (off I20 go north on Carrier Parkway; turn right on Corn Valley, right on Racquet Club, right on Ridgewood, left on Green Hollow, right on Oakmont; 3606 is the first house on the left); if lost, call (972) 642-3733
Cost: $15
Menu: some combination of ribs, chicken and sausage, plus all the trimmings; soft drinks, beer, wine
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STRAIGHT STUFF
Dora O. Tovar of Tovar Public Relations, LLC, will discuss the value of Hispanic PR services and offer a list of communications do's and don'ts for North Texas at the PRSA Consultants Group meeting at 11:15 a.m. Friday, July 16, in the upstairs community room at Central Market, I-30 and Hulen Street. ...
Ever needed to do graphic work but didn't want to buy Photoshop? Or had your copy of Windows crash and desperately needed to retrieve a client's file? Author/consultant and former EDS intranet linchpin Jerry Stevenson will discuss the worldwide open source software movement in "Free Techno Tools for Freelancers" at the Freelance Alliance brown-bag lunch Thursday, July 22, from noon to 1 p.m. at the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, 10707 Preston Road. Free for AWC, IABC and PRSA members; others pay $10. Non-geeks welcome. The Freelance Alliance is an umbrella organization serving the Dallas chapters of the Association for Women in Communications, IABC and PRSA. More from Susan Eckert, saeckert@swbell.net, or Chuck Lustig, clustig@excitingwriting.com.
PRSA national update: National PRSA, the PRSA Foundation and PRSSA have relocated to lower Manhattan -- 33 Maiden Lane, 11th Floor; New York, N.Y. 10038-5150; (212) 460-1400. ... PR firms have begun buying malpractice insurance to protect themselves against lawsuits alleging bad advice or even fallout from a poorly worded press release. Corporations of all sizes are spending big money on agencies to help massage their image, but some companies have found that the wrong message can get them sued or even prosecuted. More here.
