Publisher wins new state honor

Monday, April 14, 2003
Morris

LINCOLN -- The publisher of the McCook Daily Gazette is the first winner of the statewide Francis L. Partsch Award for Editorial Leadership.

Gene Morris, who returned to the Gazette as publisher in 1990, was honored for "exemplifying the highest standards of opinion writing" and for "responsibly exercising the community leadership role of newspapers."

The award is sponsored by the Omaha World-Herald to encourage editorial leadership and excellence in editorial writing. It is named in honor of Francis L. Partsch, who was editorial pages editor of the Omaha World-Herald from 1982 to 2002.

As the inaugural recipient of the statewide editorial honor, Morris will receive a golden quill trophy and a $10,000 cash award. The presentation will take place Monday, May 5, during a reception at the Heritage Hills clubhouse in McCook.

The award was announced Friday night in Lincoln during the 2003 convention of the Nebraska Press Association. John Gottschalk, publisher of the World-Herald, and Partsch joined in presenting the award.

Before the presentation, Partsch read a tribute to Morris. He concluded by saying, "Year in and year out, our winner has maintained a vital, active editorial page, engaging the local questions of public policy with a voice of reason -- a voice that we know, from talking to his fellow townspeople, is listened to."

Following the announcement of the award, Morris expressed appreciation to the Omaha World-Herald for establishing the award, saying it will greatly encourage editorial writing and opinion columns in Nebraska.

"Editorials and opinion columns are the heart and soul of Nebraska newspapers," the Gazette publisher said, "and they have been so since territorial days."

Morris accepted the award on behalf of opinion writers throughout Nebraska. In his entry statement, Morris said he is honored to follow in the footsteps of outstanding editorial writers at the Gazette, particularly Harry Strunk, Allen Strunk and Jack Rogers. "They inspired me to stand up for the community and to address causes of importance, but to do so with reason and fairness."

Morris praised the staff of the Gazette for their fine work and support. He extended special thanks to members of the news staff, who meet each Wednesday at noon to discuss editorial issues. "I also owe a debt of gratitude to my wife, Barbara, our children and our family and friends for their support," he said.

Above all, Morris said the award is a credit to the people of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. "We are blessed to live in an area where people care passionately about the issues, and take an active role in searching for solutions to community challenges."

Morris first joined the Gazette in 1961 as a city beat and sports reporter.

He left for other jobs, but came back in 1970 as managing editor and again in 1990 as publisher.

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