Changes

Tom J. Hardin, a cousin of Jane Smith and Smith's successor as ''The Town Talk'' publisher through Central Newspapers, described his friend and associate as "a natural leader" and "a big supporter of newspapering" through his service in state and national organizations.[12]  

Tom J. Hardin, a cousin of Jane Smith and Smith's successor as ''The Town Talk'' publisher through Central Newspapers, described his friend and associate as "a natural leader" and "a big supporter of newspapering" through his service in state and national organizations.[12]  

Ira Wallace Anthony (1936–2010), the former copy editor at The Town Talk who worked at the newspaper from 1963 to 2007, described Smith as "a fairly stern person, but he had a soft interior, and he was always fair and an eminently good leader of the newsroom." Anthony, a native of Greenville, [[Mississippi]], recalled that after 1 p.m. on November 22, 1963, Smith rushed into the newsroom to help produce a special edition. He even wrote the simple headline in the largest available type, two lines of 120 points, all capital letters: "PRESIDENT KENNEDY IS DEAD.[12]

Ira Wallace Anthony (1936–2010), the former copy editor at The Town Talk who worked at the newspaper from 1963 to 2007, described Smith as "a fairly stern person, but he had a soft interior, and he was always fair and an eminently good leader of the newsroom." Anthony, a native of Greenville, [[Mississippi]], recalled that after 1 p.m. on November 22, 1963, Smith rushed into the newsroom to help produce a special edition. He even wrote the simple headline in the largest available type, two lines of 120 points, all capital letters: "PRESIDENT KENNEDY IS DEAD.[12]

Ever the innovator, ''The Town Talk'' was the first Louisiana newspaper to move from typewriters to computers. He reached out to the African-American community, as the paper hired its first black reporter, Cleo Joffrion. Smith was a member of the Rapides Parish Bi-Racial Commission. He was a friend of many black leaders, including the Reverend C. J. Bell of the Progressive Baptist Church.[13] Helen Derr (1918–2011), a Nebraska native reared in Iowa who worked for The Town Talk from 1955 to 1977 and was the newspaper religion editor, recalled that Smith never wavered from principle. She remembered that Smith once rejected a judge's request to keep certain information out of the newspaper. According to Derr, Smith "didn't pay any attention to the politicians" whose policies the newspaper frequently opposed.[12] The United States Supreme Court had ruled in 1976 in ''Nebraska Press Association v. Stuart'' that anything brought forth in a trial is public information and can therefore be published.[14]

 

Ever the innovator, ''The Town Talk'' was the first Louisiana newspaper to move from typewriters to computers. He reached out to the African-American community, as the paper hired its first black reporter, Cleo Joffrion. Smith was a member of the Rapides Parish Bi-Racial Commission and a friend of many black leaders, including, particularly,  the Reverend C. J. Bell of the Progressive Baptist Church.[13]  

 

[[Helen Derr]], a [[Nebraska]] native reared in [[Iowa]] who worked for ''The Town Talk'' from 1955 to 1977 and was the newspaper religion editor, recalled that Smith never wavered from principle. She remembered that Smith once rejected a judge's request to keep certain information out of the newspaper. According to Derr, Smith "didn't pay any attention to the politicians" whose policies the newspaper frequently opposed.[12] The United States Supreme Court had ruled in 1976 in ''Nebraska Press Association v. Stuart'' that anything brought forth in a trial is public information and can therefore be published.[14]

 

Smith developed close ties with many of his employees. Richard Powell Sharkey, Helen Derr's son-in-law, started as a reporter and became  ''The Town Talk'' managing editor. Smith stood by the bedside of his friend and former managing editor, [[Adras LaBorde]], prior to LaBorde's sudden death of stomach cancer in 1993.[15] Another Smith associate, [[Nelder Dawson]], the former Town Talk advertising manager and personnel director, also spent a half century at the paper.[16][[ Cecil Williams]], formerly assistant managing editor, became business editor in the early 1970s and won numerous awards from that position.[17]

Smith developed close ties with many of his employees. Richard Powell Sharkey, Helen Derr's son-in-law, started as a reporter and became  ''The Town Talk'' managing editor. Smith stood by the bedside of his friend and former managing editor, [[Adras LaBorde]], prior to LaBorde's sudden death of stomach cancer in 1993.[15] Another Smith associate, [[Nelder Dawson]], the former Town Talk advertising manager and personnel director, also spent a half century at the paper.[16][[ Cecil Williams]], formerly assistant managing editor, became business editor in the early 1970s and won numerous awards from that position.[17]

A number of journalists started at ''The Town Talk'' under Smith's tenure and advanced in the newsroom or went to other publications. Jeff Cowart[18] and Leonard "Len" Sanderson , Jr., became consultants based in the [[Washington, D.C.]] area. Sanderson was inducted in 2007 into the Douglas Manship Communications Hall of Fame at LSU.[19]

A number of journalists started at ''The Town Talk'' under Smith's tenure and advanced in the newsroom or went to other publications. Jeff Cowart[18] and Leonard "Len" Sanderson , Jr., became consultants based in the [[Washington, D.C.]] area. Sanderson was inducted in 2007 into the Douglas Manship Communications Hall of Fame at LSU.[19]