Jerry Tidwell

Lynn Brisendine was publisher of a small West Texas newspaper when his main typesetting machine, the notorious Compugraphic, broke down.

The company was unable to send a repairman his way for some time.

“I was down and had been using a small machine at a local print shop after their hours,” recalled the late Brownfield News publisher in 2006. “It proved to be a series of long, long days. Being the new kid in the publishing business, it never dawned on me to call anyone and ask for help.”

The young publisher related his predicament to another publisher after the long week of night work, and he mentioned it to Jerry Tidwell who, at the time, published the Lamb County Leader News in Littlefield, 60 miles north of Brownfield.

“It couldn’t have been two hours after he heard of my problems that Jerry and one of his crew pulled a pickup to my back door and unloaded one of his machines,” Brisendine said. “He had a spare, and he came to my rescue.

“I will never forget his laughing the whole time we three guys unloaded the machine and set it up. I had known Jerry for a few years before that bright morning when he came to my aid, and that day he became a friend.”

Tidwell was that kind of man – known to lend a helping hand to someone in need.

Tidwell retired in April as longtime publisher of the Hood County News. He enjoyed a 47-year newspaper career, the last 41 at the HCN.

He became HCN publisher in 1979 after paying his dues in several of James Roberts’ West Texas papers. Roberts began Roberts Publishing in 1968 and bought the Hood County News in 1970.

“He (Roberts) told his publishers to become part of their communities and to support good causes,” late Lamesa Press-Reporter Publisher Walter Buckel once said. “Jerry has done all of those things.”

SERVANT’S HEART

Tidwell has kept a servant’s heart throughout his distinguished career. Among the many accomplishments the HCN has received, Tidwell is most proud of the paper’s leadership in facilitating discussion that led many of the county’s charitable organizations to work more closely together.

Tidwell said that local ministries were “doing a great job by themselves” and all they could to provide food to those in need. However, he foresaw that by working together they could collect and distribute more effectively.

At Granbury’s Christian Service Center, the newspaper’s publisher encouraged better communication between organizations.

“The Hood County News didn’t try to run the food pantries, we just got them all together,” he said.

Once they knew each other, they eagerly developed a plan for monthly food distribution at Granbury First United Methodist Church’s vehicle barn.

“God had that building built for the food pantries, not just parking church vans in it,” he said.

Following up on the success of the Community Food Pantry, Tidwell turned the newspaper’s focus to another community need, this one involving children.

“It took awhile,” he said. “Acton United Methodist Church and several other churches were taking Weekend Food for Kids to local schools. It took about a year to build the program so that each child in need would receive these weekend meals.”

Tidwell estimated that over the past 10 years nearly 200,000 meals have been provided. The program is active in all of Granbury’s schools as well as those in Tolar.

“Our community is blessed with so many generous churches, businesses and Mission Granbury, working together to accomplish this,” Tidwell said.

WEST TEXAS OIL CAMPS

Tidwell grew up in West Texas oil camps in and around Andrews. A talented athlete, he played high school sports and baseball at Texas Tech.

After a year in Lubbock, he switched schools to attend TCU where he earned a degree in business management. While at TCU, Jerry married his high school sweetheart, Vana Lawson. After graduation, he began working at LTV in Grand Prairie. His management support role at the company’s A-7 fighter-bomber production facility was interesting and paid well at the time, but his heart just wasn’t in it.

After three years, he packed his young family, which now included daughter Jamie and son Derek, and moved back to Andrews. There, he had a job waiting for him at the Andrews County News. He sold advertising, making an impression on his mentor, James Roberts, the paper’s owner and publisher.

Tidwell later took on roles as sports reporter and ad salesman for the Seminole Sentinel and then became publisher of the Lamb County Leader News in Littlefield. Both newspapers were part of the growing Roberts Publishing newspaper chain.

In 1979 Tidwell succeeded Grant Mabry as HCN publisher.

When the Tidwells first arrived in Granbury, the paper’s office was on the square. As Tidwell tells it, the building was two stories high and 24 feet across. “Whatever you needed was always on the other floor,” he recalled.

Tidwell said he was blessed to have great employees during his tenure. Current HCN Editor Roger Enlow, whom Jerry describes as “the world’s greatest newspaper editor and good friend” was there in 1979 when Tidwell arrived.

“I was always fortunate to work with the best people,” Tidwell said. “This was the best thing. We were together more at work than with our families. We had to work hard, but we had time to laugh and time for each other. I don’t think any employee ever missed a child’s party or special event – whether it was a third-grade choir recital or a varsity football game.”

Tidwell’s own family contributed to the paper’s success. His wife Vana worked in ad composition, typesetting and bookkeeping, while son Derek started his career in the press room and worked his way to become the paper’s general manager. Daughter Jamie worked in the front office, while granddaughter Kelsey worked in the classified advertising department. Grandson Tanner also worked as an inserter while in high school.

The paper was always a popular after-school or summer job for many of Granbury’s youth. One was Paul Hyde, the HCN’s new owner.

“Paul’s older brother worked for the paper as an inserter. When he started playing football he couldn’t continue to work, so his mother sent her second son to take his place,” Tidwell said. “One day I noticed an incredibly young man whom I didn’t recognize working as an inserter. I found out it was Paul, and he was there as son No. 3 replacing brother No. 2 who was also involved in sports.”

Tidwell acknowledges that the paper’s success would not have been possible without the dedication of its long-term employees. Among those are Roger Enlow, Nancy Pricer, Jan Beech, Cherri Medcalf, Martha Pyron, Kathy Cruz, Debbie Schneider, Cher Thompson, Joe Thompson and Rick Craig.

“The newspaper’s goal has always been to report and support Hood County. The paper has been doing that continuously since 1886. We strived to produce an overall balance with every issue. It can’t be all good news or all bad news, and you can’t make everybody happy at the same time.”

Tidwell’s commitment to that philosophy is evidenced by the numerous awards and plaques that line the walls of his office and the newsroom. Among them are Texas Press Association Sweepstakes Awards, naming the HCN the Best Semi-Weekly newspaper in the state.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Tidwell’s involvement in journalism expanded beyond Granbury. His efforts to protect and preserve the First Amendment placed him in leadership positions in state and national press organizations. He traveled to nearly every state promoting press freedom – and met with two sitting presidents on four separate occasions in Washington, D.C.

For his contributions, Tidwell was elected to the prestigious Texas Press Association’s Hall of Fame and was among the first three groups of four inducted. There are currently 40 honorees.

In addition to serving as leadership with the Texas Press Association, the National Newspaper Association, and the North and East Texas Press Association, Tidwell is a former president of the Granbury Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs.

He served on the Lake Granbury Medical Center advisory board and Ruth’s Place board, and is a founding member of the Granbury United Way board.

“Service to others has always been a passion for me,” he said. As an example, he saw a need for an outreach program targeting Granbury’s senior citizens. Called “Senior Connections” and working in conjunction with Meals on Wheels, the HCN sought community help to make safety improvements for handicapped homeowners.

Among the many volunteers, one Granbury schoolteacher, Joe Overstreet, stepped in to get it going and took over, said Tidwell.

“Joe knew building codes and how to figure ramps dimensions and construction tasks. Other individuals and organizations such as the Granbury Rotary Club also participated.”

ENJOYING RETIREMENT

Now after 41 years, Tidwell says he is going to enjoy his retirement.

“I plan to spend more time on the lake, boating and fishing; reading my Bible every day; once COVID is over getting out on the square and seeing friends again; traveling; getting beat by my wife Lula in Scrabble; playing a little Solitaire. Retirement is six Saturdays a week and one Sunday.”

Acknowledging the close of this chapter of his life, Tidwell says, “I wish Paul Hyde, Sam Houston and the staff well in the future. Keep doing great work, and remember that the pen is mightier than the sword.”

editor@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 245