Southern Newspapers Inc.

The Carmage Walls Spirit Award

The Carmage Walls Spirit Award is given annually to a staff person at Southern Newspapers' annual publisher meeting.

The award recognizes and honors the staff person whose loyal and dedicated service is instrumental in the success of his or her newspaper, community and company. Recipients demonstrate the leadership qualities inherent to Mr. Walls during his newspaper career and those qualities he sought in his associates.

Winners include:

. Judy Starnes, General Manager

The Facts, Texas
2007 Spirit Award Winner

Bill Cornwell wrote:

In January 1996, Judy Starnes became General Manager at The Brazosport Facts. As my friend and general manager, Judy is my right arm, my right leg and everything else that is right about the operation at The Brazosport Facts.

Judy also expends her energies in service of the community. She is a member of the Brazosport Medical Center board. She is on the board of the Brazoria County Historical Museum. She is a past United Way Board member and was a participant in Leadership Brazosport.

This year marks her 25th anniversary with Southern Newspapers. She is extremely loyal to me, The Facts and Southern Newspapers and I believe her good works more than fulfill the requirements of our Spirit Award.

Starnes

. Barbara Zavodny

Southern Newspapers Inc., Texas
2006 Spirit Award Winner

Lissa Vahldiek wrote:

Barbara Zavodny, or Madam Z, as she is affectionately known, has been with Southern Newspapers Inc. since 1967 when she was hired in the bookkeeping office of The Baytown Sun.

She was business manager of The Sun prior to relocating to the corporate office as Director of Accounting Services.

Throughout her career, she has helped many colleagues achieve success with SNI and never hesitates to lend her support and experience when asked.

Zavodny

.Les Daughtry, Vice President

Galveston County Daily News, Texas
2005 Spirit Award Winner

Dolph Tillotson wrote:

Les has been a part of our newspaper family since he was a little boy. He has worked for our company for over 20 years as an ad salesman, ad manager and later as publisher of the Texas City Sun. Les has demonstrated his dedication to his newspaper and our company over many years. He also is a faithful community leader in Texas City.

Les faced one of the most difficult challenges any newspaper man could face – merging his newspaper with another. Les and I personally called on most major advertisers and community leaders in Texas City, and his personal credibility with them after years of presence and leadership in Texas City was crucial to our success.

Because of his leadership, we were able to put behind us decades of competition and quickly form a successful, dynamic team for a new newspaper.

Daughtry

.Glenn Blount, Circulation Manager

The Facts, Texas
2004 Spirit Award Winner

Bill Cornwell wrote:

Glenn Blount is a valuable Southern Newspapers employee who makes a difficult and taxing job look easy. Over the years he has worked his way up through the ranks and his advice and counsel is respected by his peers.

Whether it is throwing a down route in the rain or helping work the phones after a difficult evening, Glenn has always done what it takes to get the job done right.

Not only is Glenn an asset to our company, but he is a caring generous person and his word is as good as gold. He is truly a pleasure to work with.

Blount

.Deana Hale, Advertising Manager

The Walton Tribune, Georgia
2003 Spirit Award Winner

Robert Hale wrote:

Deana has continually been one of the most versatile and dedicated members of our staff, not only in terms of the scope of her duties at the newspaper, but in her involvement in Walton County and its member communities.

She has never been above running a missed paper, driving the forklift to unload a skid of inserts, covering Friday night football, proofing pages in composing or handling community news photos.

Deana has been active in every key event in Walton County since March 1994, assuming a top leadership role in almost every one of them. Deana is also stepping into leadership roles in the Georgia Press Association, for which she is currently chairing the sales and marketing committees.

Hale

.Deana Lesco, Advertising Manager

The Facts, Texas
2002 Spirit Award Winner

Wanda Garner Cash wrote:

Deana's personal participation in Brazoria County issues and events has made a difference in the lives of readers and residents. Through her board memberships and diverse avenues of volunteerism, Deana has maintained balance and perspective, never yielding to the potential conflicts that could doom a newspaper's objective viewpoint.

She's a whirlwind of energy and ideas and her devotion to the community goes well beyond being a part of her job description. Never content to be just a name on a board roster or letterhead, Deana pushes up her shirtsleeves and gets the job done right. She leads by example and never shirks the dirty work.

Deana Lesco is a major cog in the community.

Lesco

.Rosetta Bonnin, Business Manager

Galveston County Daily News, Texas
2001 Spirit Award Winner

Dolph Tillotson wrote:

Rosetta is the kind of leader to whom other employees naturally gravitate. In fact, when I am struggling with a problem myself, Rosetta is someone to whom I often turn, and her counsel is always wise, balanced and principled. When I am away from Galveston, Rosetta effectively runs the company in my absence. People naturally bring problems and issues to her for advice.

Our newspaper has experienced many successes over the past 10 or 12 years. It would be hard to over-state the role Rosetta has played in that success. She is someone I am very proud to call my friend and colleague.

Bonnin