Harrisons of Matdor accept journalism honor on behalf of late parents
At the 111th Panhandle Press Association convention July 23–24 in Amarillo, longtime Texas Spur publishers Joe and Jo Ann Harrison were posthumously inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame. On hand to accept the honor were the Harrisons’ elder son, Chuck, and his wife, Nancy, who currently live and work in Matador.
Additionally, The Texas Spur and its sister newspaper The Caprock Courier participated in professional development seminars, the past presidents’ luncheon with keynote speaker Dr. Walter Wendler, president of WTA&M Unviersity, the association’s annual business meeting, and a social night at the Hodgetown baseball park.
The newspapers each won several awards at Saturday night’s presentation, including 1st place in Headline Writing for The Texas Spur, as well as 1st place in page design for The Caprock Courier and 2nd place for The Texas Spur. A full list follows.
Since 1992 the PPA Hall of Fame has inducted nearly 100 industry leaders, including former Caprock Courier publisher Douglas Meador (1993) and Pulitzer Prize winner and former Floyd County Hesperian-Beacon publisher Ken Towery, for whom the organization’s annual Community Service Award is named. (The Clarendon Enterprise was presented with the 2020 award for its coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic.)
PPA president Tara Huff introduced the 2020 inductees, noting, “Grady Joe Harrison (1929–2020) and his wife and partner, Jo Ann, represent the dedication and deep community knowledge of the mom-and-pop weekly newspaper operation, as publishers of The Texas Spur for nearly four decades.
“A sports fanatic and an army veteran who once worked on The Stars & Stripes, Joe Harrison came to Spur after graduating from Texas Tech University in 1957 and bought the newspaper the following year.
“He and Jo Ann ran the business until 1996, receiving the General Excellence Award from the West Texas Press Association, among several other awards in news writing, sports writing, column writing and advertising initiative. They shepherded the transition from linotype to phototypesetting to the digital era.
“Spur benefited from the couple’s chronicling of its life, as well as their service in school, sports, church and civic activity. A journalism internship has recently been established to carry on their legacy.”
Further, in ispeaking about Jo Ann Pirtle Harrison (1931–2020), Huff said, “Jo Ann Pirtle Harrison worked alongside her husband, Joe, at The Texas Spur for most of the nearly four decades they owned the newspaper.
“Jo Ann, who married high school sweetheart, Joe, in 1949 and came to Spur with him and their first son in 1957, parlayed her college coursework and experience as a secretary in the banking industry into 35 years as the newspaper’s advertising director.
“She was also active in school, sports, church and civic life, and received the highest citizen award in the state of Texas for women, “The Yellow Rose of Texas,” by then governor Mark White. She was voted Spur’s Citizen of the Year in 1984.
“Joe and Jo Ann are fondly remembered by former employees for their steady principles, dedication to community, and work ethic. A journalism internship at The Texas Spur has recently been established to carry on their legacy.”
PPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST 2020, DIVISION 1 (WEEKLIES)
Entries were from issues published in 2020
THE TEXAS SPUR
First place, Headline writing
Second place, Page Layout
Second place, Human Interest Photography
Third place, Sports Writing
Third place, Editorial Writing
Third place, Serious column
THE CAPROCK COURIER
First place, Page Layout
Second place, Special Section
Third place, Advertising
Third place, Feature Writing
Third place, News Writing