John R. “Jack” Whitaker, publisher of the Hannibal Courier-Post, was elected 2008 president of the Missouri Press Association on Sept. 7, in St. Louis. Whitaker will take office on Jan. 1.
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He will succeed David Bradley Jr., St. Joseph News-Press, who presided as members of the press association gathered for the 141st annual MPA Convention and Trade Show, Sept. 6-8.
Other 2008 officers elected were Vicki Russell, Columbia Daily Tribune, first vice president; Sandy Nelson, Harrisonville Cass County Democrat-Missourian, second vice president; Brad Gentry, Houston Herald, secretary; and Kate Martin, Perryville Perry County Republic-Monitor, treasurer.
Jon Rust, Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian, and Dennis Warden, Owensville Gasconade County Republican, were elected to three-year terms as directors.
Jeff Schrag, Springfield Daily Events, was elected state chair for the National Newspaper Association. He will succeed Helen Sosniecki, Vandalia Leader, current NNA state chair.
Continuing on the MPA Board as directors in 2008 will be Mark Maassen, The Kansas City Star; Joe May, Mexico Ledger; Kevin Jones, St. Louis American; and Dan Wehmer, Seymour Webster County Citizen. Bradley will serve one more year on the board as past president.
Retiring from the MPA Board will be treasurer Phil Conger, Bethany Republican-Clipper.
Missouri Press members also elected officers and directors of the Missouri Press Service, Inc. Elected for a one-year term beginning Jan. 1, were Steve Oldfield, Adrian Journal, president; John Spaar, Odessa Odessan, vice president; Gary Sosniecki, Vandalia Leader, secretary-treasurer; and directors Dave Berry, Bolivar Herald-Free Press, and Dane Vernon, Eldon Advertiser.
Retiring from the MPS Board will be director Wendell Lenhart, Trenton Republican-Times.
The Missouri Press Association, headquartered in Columbia, has a membership of approximately 300 weekly and daily newspapers in the state.
MPA’s 142nd annual convention will be held Sept. 11-13, 2008, in Columbia, in conjunction with the University of Missouri School of Journalism’s centennial celebration.