The newspaper, with 700 total points--more than 200 points above its closest competitor, also walked away with the Bill & Judy Wilkerson Sweepstakes Award in Division I. Vince Leibowitz was named South Texas Press Association Journalist of the Year for Division I and was recognized for his work on the city manager controversy in Eagle Lake, the Colorado Materials controversy, his feature on Inez Townzend, and his news story on Weimar ISD’s Superintendent not wanting to arm teachers in the classroom. Leibowitz also continued his work with the Colorado County Historical Commission, and has recently been a guest of a number of civic clubs in the area to speak on Etta Moten Barnett, the first black woman to sing solo in the White House, for whom he secured a historical marker last year. He recently spoke to the Columbus Lions Club, Weimar Encore Lions Club, and Rotary Club of Weimar. In late May, Leibowitz visited Southern Methodist University’s Birdcall Theological Library at Southern Methodist University to complete research for a historical marker for St. Paul United Methodist Church in Columbus, the first black freedmen’s church founded in Colorado County and among the earliest freedmen churches founded in the state. He also completed work on a historical marker for Early Emancipation Celebrations in Columbus, which will be submitted to the Texas Historical Commission’s Undersold Stories Marker Program in June. While there, he visited with noted modern American composer Lane Harder, who teaches music composition at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts and is a longtime friend of Leibowitz. The two are both Mineola High School graduates.
Vince Leibowitz is shown with his award for being named Journalist of the Year by the South Texas Press Association.
Colorado County Citizen Editorial Assistant Chris Brown graduated with honors from Columbus High School on May 23, 2019. Brown will attend the University of Houston this fall. He plans to become a psychiatrist.
Citizen Bookeeper Lori Ligues, left, and Publisher Michelle Banse Stokes took time to play at the beach while in Port Aransas for the Gulf Coast Newspaper Convention in May.
Summer 2019 Newsletter
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