Nebraska publisher, Edgecombe, named NNA president

Oct 8, 2014

SAN ANTONIO, TX—John Edgecombe Jr., publisher of the Nebraska Signal in Geneva, NE, was elected as president of the National Newspaper Association, during the association’s 128th annual convention and trade show Oct. 4, 2014. He had been vice president.

Edgecombe succeeded Robert M. Williams Jr., publisher of Pierce County Publishing Co. Inc. in Blackshear, GA, who became immediate past president.

Elected vice president was Chip Hutcheson, publisher of the Princeton (KY) Times Leader. He had been treasurer.

The treasurer position remains open.

“My family has owned The Nebraska Signal for 120 years,” Edgecombe said during his acceptance speech at the convention.

“My great-grandfather, F.O. Edgecombe, a blind newspaper publisher, became president of the National Editorial Association, now NNA, 90 years ago.

“I began working at the paper at an early age.

“The summer after graduating from high school I attended Linotype school at the University of Missouri.

“In 1967 I enlisted in the Navy where I was a printer and learned offset printing. After being discharged I began my career as the fourth generation at the family newspaper.

“As we begin our 130th year, NNA has formed a steering committee to look into our organization's future to make it stronger.

“There are many dedicated people serving on the committee and I know they take the challenge very seriously for the betterment of our membership and organization.

The Nebraska Signal has been a member of the National Newspaper Association for many years. John’s great-grandfather, F.O. Edgecombe, was president of what was then known as the National Editorial Association in 1925.

His grandfather, Tyler Edgecombe, served as Nebraska’s NNA state chair for a number of years.

Edgecombe is publisher of the Nebraska Signal in Geneva and co-publisher of the Hebron Journal-Register.

Elected to their first three-year terms as regional directors were Matt Paxton, publisher of the News-Gazette in Lexington, VA, as Region 3 director (Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia); Matt Adelman, publisher of the Douglas Budget/Glenrock Independent in Douglas, WY, as Region 10 director (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming); Susan Rowell, publisher/regional manager, The Lancaster News/Carolina Gateway, Lancaster, SC, as Region 4 director (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Puerto Rico); and Tom Mullen with the Philipsburg (MT) Mail as Region 9 director (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington).

Continuing on the board are Pat Desmond, publisher the Milton (MA) Times, as Region 1 director (Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont); Carl Aiello, president of Times Community Publications of the Hudson Valley in Newburgh, NY, as Region 2 director (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and the District of Columbia); Jeffrey “Jeff” Farren, president and publisher of Kendall County Record Newspapers Inc. in Yorkville, IL, as Region 5 director (Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio); Andrew Johnson, Dodge County Pionier in Mayville, WI, as Region 6 director (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin); David Fisher, president and publisher of Fisher Publishing in Danville, AR, as Region 8 director (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas); and Philip Vega, publisher of the Siera Vista (AZ) Herald as Region 11 director (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam); and.

Appointed to the board was Deb McCaslin, publisher of The Custer County Chief in Broken Bow, NE, as Region 7 director (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska). She had been an at-large director and was appointed to the board to finish the unexpired term of Dane Vernon, Vernon Publishing Inc. in Eldon, MO; and Bradley Thompson, publisher of the Detroit Legal News, Detroit, MI, representing American Court and Commercial Newspapers. Continuing on the board is David Bordewyk, executive director for the South Dakota Newspaper Association, representing the Newspaper Association Managers.

Named to the board were Cheryl Kaechele, publisher of Kaechele Publishing Co. in Allegan, MI, as an at-large director; and Jerry Reppert, publisher of The Gazette-Democrat in Anna, IL, as an at-large director.