One Team. One Vision. One Goal.
Celebrating years
Remaining Strong By Daniel Philhower
In February 2016, I had the honor to join the Granite team. I inserters and drivers to Publishers and Granite’s Management, we are came with a background in real estate development/management, all working as one team, with one vision in mind, to achieve the same working for large developers in Austin but all the while living in goal. Taylor. The 100 mile roundtrip commute started to take its toll I may be relatively new to the Granite history but I am eager to see on me so I looked to make a change. Brandi Chionsini, Jimmy’s what is in store for us over the next 40 years with Granite Publications. daughter hired me and I will forever be in their debt for getting Jimmy and the Chionsini family have put so much of themselves into me out of Austin traffic and introducing me to a fantastic family this company and I am honored to be a small part of it. Over these past owned company. A lot has changed over the few years, Jimmy’s mentorship and guidance past 40 years and Granite looks differently now have proven to be invaluable to me personally as “‘Granite’ for me, than it did, but our culture remains strong, our well professionally. Mr. Walls’ philosophy had a conjures up other values solid, and our financial standing remains big influence on Jimmy’s career (Mr. Walls’ letter strong. words such as ‘solid,’ is attached) and he has shared this influence with “Granite” for me, conjures up other words many of us over the years. I would say Jimmy is ‘foundation,’ ‘strength,’ such as “solid,” “foundation,” “strength,” and my “Mr. Walls” and look forward to the continued “dependable.” It is also beautiful with each and ‘dependable.’” respect, mentorship, guidance and ass-chewing piece being different, with interweaving mix for many more years to come. of colors and textures, synonymous with the Some of my favorite Jimmy Quotes: Daniel Philhower people that make up the Granite team. This is “Start with a railroad tie and slowly chip away why we developed our new vision statement: at it until you get a toothpick.” “One Team, One Vision, One Goal.” Granite Publications and the “Nothing changes until you get started” family of community newspapers we serve have increased and “Let the Clutch out.” decreased in numbers over the years, but the ”foundation” of Granite “Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead.” remains today. Each person in each of our papers serves an important purpose; interwoven together to achieve the same goal. From the “Preparation is the difference between an adventure and an ordeal.”
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Ride For the Brand By Red Steagall
It has been a little over 11 years since I started my journey with Granite Publications. I had applied to the job posting for the Alpine Avalanche at the insistence of a friend. I had no confidence that I would be what they were looking for as I really had no experience in any of the programs or areas they listed in the ad. But my friend wouldn’t leave me alone, so I turned in my resume and went for an interview with Rick Reynolds and Jim Barnes. Apparently, they saw that there was an office manager and bookkeeper living inside of me that was dying to be released. And so my journey began. Not long after I started, Jim Chionsini came to Alpine for a visit. When we met, the first thing I noticed were his kind eyes. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul and I knew I was looking into a good soul. We hit it off and I was very glad my friend had goaded me into applying. It feels good to know who you’re working for. Several times within the first year or so I heard Jim talk about riding for the brand. While I may not have gotten it then, I truly know what the term means now. To me it means that I am committed to the vision of the company through my dedication and loyalty even when things aren’t going so well. I am part of the team and all that may entail. So, I am proudly riding for the brand and will continue do so as long as I can. Happy birthday, Granite Publications! And thanks for allowing me to be part of the fabric that makes up your story.
Valeri Stair
(2007 to present) Alpine Avalanche 6 years, Taylor Press 1 year, Granite Publications 4 years and counting
40th Anniversary Newsletter
His skin looked like leather, He walked with a limp And talked with a slow Texas drawl. His knuckles were knotted, His left thumb was gone, Said a stud bit it off last fall. We knew he was lyin’ We watched him dally it up, But it ain’t healthy to call him a liar. It was Saturday night Before the wagon went out And he was settin’ this new kid on fire. Now we’ve all heard his stories ‘Bout places he’s been - We all think that Jake’s pretty strange. He looked over at me Said “I’m schoolin’ this boy ‘Bout the unwritten laws of the range” The kid was enthralled, Kinda like a trance, Jake sensed that he had a good grip. He straightened up, hitched his pants, Took a drink of cold beer; Turned around with his hand on his hip. He said, “Son, a man’s brand Is his own special mark That says this is mine, leave it alone. You hire out to a man, Ride for his brand And protect it like it was your own.” He said, “Mr. Waggoner Come out here in 1903, This country was sagebrush, mesquite trees and sand He carved him a ranch Outa blood; sweat, and guts, So be proud that you ride for his brand. If you hire out to string barb wire, Then build him a fenceDon’t matter if it’s four or five strand. Remember it was you Who asked for the job, So don’t bitch when you ride for this brand. Mr. Waggoner don’t Hold with complainers, He’ll fire one before he can quit. So if you don’t like your outfit, Then head down the trail, Find a hoss that your saddle will fit. But if you get up early And catch your own bronc, Show the boss that you’re makin ‘ a hand; Mr. Waggoner’ll be there To cover your bets As long as you ride for his brand.” He said, “The winter I spent At the Sixes, We had a man at the old Taylor place He rode up on some hiders A skinnin ‘ a cow, And squared off at them scamps face to face. Now he coulda rode off; Never looked back, But he just wasn’t that kind of man. We found him in Ash Creek Shot all to hell, Nocona Joe died for the brand” We know the old man Tells a windy or two Like the one about losing his thumb. And Nocona was killed In a bar in Fort Worth By the demons in a bottle of rum. But I got to thinkin , ‘Bout what he had said And the more of it I understand. The more I believe We’d be all better off If more people would ride for the brand.
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The A&A Machine Shop 60th anniversary earlier this year. Left to right is Albert Thompson, Jim’s friend since the Walls days and the second publisher Jim hired when we bought Siloam Springs, Arkansas in 1980. Between Albert and Jim is Charles Hutchins, Jim’s father’s business partner, who has known Jim since he was in school at LaMarque. On the far right is Leon Aldridge.
An Incredible Journey The adventure of being a part of Jim’s 40-year-old newspaper
By Leon Aldridge “The adventure is not in the destination, but in the journey.” I can’t tell you offhand who should be attributed with that quote, but I can say with all honesty that I learned the meaning of it from Jim Chionsini. The opportunity to be a part of the 40 incredible years of Jim’s newspaper ownership has been more than a journey, or an adventure. It’s been nothing short of a blessing. My journey with Jim began the day Lois Cooper lead the way as I followed her to the press room at the East Texas Light in Center where Jim and Robert Swonke were having a large discussion over a small job-printing press. Being relatively new in town and having met Jim just a couple of weeks earlier at a Lion’s Club meeting, my hope was that he would
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find my five years of small weekly newspaper experience and my short resume sufficient for employment. Had I any idea on that day almost 40 years ago about the pivotal role in my life Jim would play, or about the journey and the adventures ahead—both professional and personal, I would have started writing this account that very afternoon. Introductory small talk around that job press, a short interview in Jim’s office coupled with an offer I couldn’t refuse, and I was about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Perhaps the first thing I learned from Jim was in that interview when he concluded with, “What do you want to be doing five years from now?” Honestly, I cannot remember the answer I gave him, but I remembered the question and have long remembered the answer I got the first time I followed his example in asking it. That occurred just a short time later. During a search for an editor at
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“It’s not always what you do, it’s what you get done.” Standing at his farm entrance outside Center, TX, early 80s.
the Light, I interviewed a young editorial type from New York who had come to Texas with everything he owned, including his dog, in a 70s vintage Olds Cutlass. Remembering Jim’s question to me, I concluded my interview by asking Gary Stewart what he wanted to be doing in five years. He rubbed his bearded chin with his thumb and forefinger, smiled and replied, “I kind of like the looks of that chair you’re sitting in.” Still a fledgling first-time publisher that day, I suddenly understood the insight in Jim’s question.
First Old Italian saying I learned: “Surround yourself with people who are inspired, have a goal and know how to dream.” I hired Gary on the spot. My first week at the Light proved to be an introduction to Jim’s incredible ability to challenge individuals to do more than they think they are capable of achieving. Jim recognized the magic in allowing people to learn more about themselves, and rising above what they might have otherwise achieved without that extra push. Looking back, I’m sure Jim knew my experience was shallow, but rather than point it out, or place limits on what he assigned me, he administered the Chionsini “Old Italian Sayings University” achievement test.
40th Anniversary Newsletter
Left to Right: Nona Bailey, Glenn Maas and Warner Bailey, Nona’s husband, Warner, passed away some years ago. Granite gives out a scholarship in his name yearly.
“The first thing for you to tackle,” he said early that week, “is a chamber banquet tab. It’s due on the press Monday, and it needs a little work.” When I inquired as to what had already been done, Jim replied sheepishly, “Well, actually, we haven’t started on it yet.” Along with jumping into covering and writing news and a myriad of first-week-on-the-job objectives, I managed some hands-on with the chamber tab as well. Come Friday, however, a lot of work still remained. I dug into it late Friday and devoted the entire weekend hoping to at least make a showing. Monday morning, I had paste-ups ready to shoot for a 24-page tab. And, it only took one 80-hour week to do it—my first of many.
Second Old Italian saying learned: “Late to bed and early to rise, until you learn enough to do otherwise.” Jim may have been a little surprised that the tab was completed, but not nearly as surprised as I was. That was a scenario that would be repeated numerous times in the years to come. Not long after that hit-the-ground-running start, Jim entrusted me with the afore mentioned publisher’s chair at the East Texas Light. He then started pursuing other newspapers to add under the Shelby Newspapers, Inc. banner.
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Adding them didn’t take long. From 1980 through 1983, Shelby Newspapers acquired eight additional properties. The first was the Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Herald and Democrat. Jim hired friend and printing guru, Albert Thompson, as publisher. He also enlisted me for a week there to make cosmetic improvements to the product while Albert was sorting out employees, and as Jim was prone to saying, “Figuring out where the front door is located.” At the end of the first week, Jim arrived in Siloam Springs. A Saturday a.m. debriefing of the week’s activities with Albert and me was followed by a round of golf at Dawn Hill Country Club. I assured them that golf and I had never established an amicable relationship, and for them to go ahead, I would be fine. They insisted that it was all in celebratory fun, nothing serious, blindly refusing to heed my warning. After suffering through three holes, however, Jim put his arm around me and said, “Would you be terribly offended if we asked you to just drive the golf cart and secure beverages from the bar?” “Offended,” I responded with joy. “I would be relieved.”
Next Old Italian Saying learned: “Make sure you have the right person matched to the right job.” Following Siloam Springs, but not necessarily in order, we added the San Augustine Rambler and hired Randy Snow as publisher; the Hemphill Sabine County Reporter making SNI company pilot, Jonathan McDonald, the publisher; the Weslaco Town Crier where we were introduced to L.G. Hountha and Jim Beaver; and the newspaper and telephone book printing operation at Ulysses, Kansas, tagging Robert Swonke as publisher there. Along the way, we purchased the competing Center Champion from Bob and Mildred Pinkston and merged it with the East Texas Light to become the Light and Champion. On the way out of the lawyer’s office, son Bobby Pinkston applied for a job and was named the paper’s new editor. Before the closing, however, Jim noticed that Mildred did not appear to be happy. He asked if she had any concerns, assuring her that if she did, the sale did not have to proceed. “I’m OK with Bob selling the paper,” she said. “I’m just wondering how I will finish my last book without a typesetter to do it.” “We can take care of that,” Jim assured her, knowing that her books on Shelby County history were her focus in life. The next day, we delivered a Compugraphic typesetter to her house and set it up in her living room, where it remained until she completed her last book that she dedicated to Jim and me. Dedicated to expanding the borders of Shelby Newspapers during those days, we also took a stab at establishing newspapers in Jay, Grove and Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Albert, Randy, Gary and others all pitched in there trying to find not only the front door, but anything else that could be remotely identified. Randy’s move to Oklahoma opened the door for the San Augustine editor, Gary Borders, to move up to publisher. Gary would later aid in the efforts at Fort Stockton, Cedar Park and Mount Pleasant with a stint at Cox newspapers in there somewhere. Looking back, it’s amazing to me how many of these individuals, and numerous others not mentioned here, were not people who just came and went, but unique individuals who became good friends and trusted partners. And, for the handful who may have fallen short of that good friends and trusted partners category, well, at least they left us with some incredible happy hour stories.
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Left to right: Richard Pierce, Gary Stewart, Jim Chionsini (circ. 1982)
Old Italian Philosophy learned early and reinforced throughout these years: “Blind faith.” If you know Jim, you know about “blind faith.” If you don’t, just ask him. Or, better yet, ask any of the individuals whose names you are reading here. They can tell you. In 1983, Jim sold the Shelby group to Pat Smith. Jim and Pat worked together in Galveston and Laredo. At the time, Pat worked for Smith Newspapers (no relationship) in Fort Payne, Alabama. That sale completed, he moved to Lufkin where he spent time recuperating from heart surgery before purchasing an established newspaper management company from a Walls family member, a company with a long history and a trusted reputation, Dixie Newspapers. Under the Dixie banner at first, then later as Granite Publications, Jim spent the next 10 years or so assembling a group of newspapers that included Madisonville, Marlin, Sealy, Navasota, Columbus, Boerne, Bandera, Taylor, Thrall, Thorndale, Granger, Bartlett, Fort Stockton, Malden, Mo., Ripley, Miss., Jay, Okla., Cedar Park, Gonzales, Marble Falls, Mason, Burnett, Cameron, Rosebud and Elgin … that I can remember off the top of my head. He had already purchased Madisonville, Gonzales, Fort Stockton and Sealy when I went to work for him the second time in 1991. After Jim sold Center, I remained as publisher for Smith Newspapers CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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Antarctica Trip By Charles Hutchins
1500 km we arrived back in Buenos Aires at 5:00 pm on Friday afternoon with wall-to-wall traffic and Jimmy did a remarkable job of driving and I navigating and we arrived at the car rental Years ago Jim Chionsini and I would do pontoon trips down agency without a scratch. A little more sightseeing in Buenos the rivers of Texas and over into Louisiana. We would spend Aires and then met the tour at the hotel on Sunday January 30. three days just cruising and sleeping on the pontoon boat. We The next morning they arranged our 3-hour flight to Ushuaia had a lot of fun. We had so many other things to do we missed where the ship was waiting. a year and then another. Jimmy purchased a couple of big Nice ship. The “Orion”. We departed for the Antarctica and boats and we did some interesting trips to Cuba and various the crossing of the Drake Passage. The most fearsome waters other places. in the world but we were lucky and it was only 12 to 16 foot About 5 years ago we both read the book “Endurance” the seas. We then spent 5 days exploring the Antarctica Peninsula. story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his boat trip to the Antarctica As you can see from some of the pictures it was awesome. in 1914. The story was fascinating and we said someday The deepest ice on the continent is 9,000 feet thick. Yet we were going to go. We joked about it being the greatest it only rains and snows 2 to 3 inches per year. But it never pontoon boat trip anyone had ever done. Then Jimmy talked melts and has been there a million years, so gets pretty thick. about how he could get his big boat the “Reel News” down Penguins, seals and whales and birds are the only life on the there for the summer and see the Antarctica. This was fun continent except man. talking but not very practical nor doable. We were given a lecture on board on Penguins, Penguins, In October of 2003 Jimmy faxed me a story about a new and More Penguins. There were a lot of Penguins. Thousands boat making a cruise to the Antarctica from Argentina and we and thousands. They are beautiful and cute decided to look into this. Well we could not and would walk right up to you and pay no get it together and promised we would look “Great trip but the attention to you but the smell was horrible. at the trip when the next schedule came out best part is about Then when you added a bunch of molting from the cruise line in April of 2004. The seals it really got bad. We visited 10 places the warning ticket.” cruise line called and we picked the January over the five days including 3 summer 29 thru February 11, 2005 trip. We paid our stations. One Argentina, one British, and deposit and started planning. Charles Hutchins Palmer Station which is a US station. These As time got closer we decided to go a are only manned in the 3 months of summer few days early and see Argentina. Now Argentina is a big country. But we struck out. Beautiful weather because they are not equipped for winter. One of the islands is named Deception Island and is a and 72 degrees. We saw a couple of days of Buenos Aires and volcano and the last eruption was in 1969. Hot water bubbles then rented a car and decided to drive down the coast. Four up through the volcanic sand on the beach and the crew dug blocks from the rental car place Jimmy was pulled over by the a hot tub and some of us went swimming in 34-degree water police for a wrong turn. (My story so I can tell it my way). The policeman spoke about the same amount of English as Jimmy with the temperate at about 32-degrees. Jimmy and I were spoke Spanish and they got along just fine and we only got a the boldest out of 100 people from the ship but I do not believe you could have done it without the hot tub. It was a warning. We drove 500 km down the coast of Argentina seeing great place. On the way back to Ushuaia and crossing the Drake Passage some beautiful resort towns and the beaches were packed we had some 30 to 36 foot seas and it got a little exciting. with families coming for the summer. The towns were clean and the people friendly. We all laughed a lot about us trying Sometimes waves would go completely over the ship. I felt like to speak Spanish and them trying to speak English, but we I got a taste of how rough the Drake Passage could really be. We left the ship at 8:00 on Thursday morning Feb. 10 and always got what we needed and were treated wonderful. We saw fantastic cattle and horse ranches and farms. We ate the arrived back into Dallas airport on Friday Morning about 7:00 finest beef in the world and at very inexpensive prices. After am. That is one long day.
40th Anniversary Newsletter
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
Left to right: Robert Swonke, Jim Chionsini, Leon Aldridge gather at pub meeting at No Name Ranch on Oct. 2017.
Left to right: Jim Chionsini, Warner Bailey, couple of musicians. Luchenbach (circ. 1990)
Relaxing after a long boat trip from New Orleans to Galveston, Mid 80s.
Bob Tanner with Jim Chionsini at Granite Ranch, 2000.
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before leaving to scratch a couple of things off my bucket list: one, to teach journalism at the university level. While I was teaching print media courses at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, a lunch get-together at Crown Colony Country Club with Jim led to reminiscing about old times at Shelby Newspapers, and to Jim asking, “Do you ever think about doing it again?” That day marked the second time an offer I couldn’t refuse returned me to the folds of the business. I came on board as the first employee at the Dixie Newspapers management office leased from an accounting firm in Lufkin. I was just in time to assist with the purchase of the Taylor group, then Boerne and Bandera—both of which we worked on at the same time and on which we closed very near the same time. This was when and where we hired Nona Baily as the company accountant. Nona quickly became a stabilizing force amid the turmoil of numerous acquisitions and increasing activity, despite the fact that she started without an office, just a desk in the hall between our two offices. Nona also became a very good friend, and one of the most professional, understanding, patient and “calm in a crisis” Christian individuals I’ve known. She remained with the company for many years—more than she planned, I’m reasonably sure. Every time she announced her retirement, Jim enticed her to come back just a little while longer “to help out.”
Old Italian Rule: “When you work for someone whose last name ends with a vowel, it’s difficult to leave the family.” After moving to offices at Crown Colony Country Club where Nona finally got an office, it became apparent that a large number of properties in South Texas made it sensible to look at relocating the management offices. A lack of publishers for new acquisitions also made it sensible for us to personally fill a couple of those key positions in the move. I went to Boerne as publisher and to oversee Bandera, Gonzales, and Fort Stockton. Jim moved to Taylor to publish the daily there and oversee other papers in that area. Jim Grimes, who had joined the company as publisher at Madisonville, was publishing Sealy by then and looking after properties over that way. Edna Keasling, an employee for a competitor at Madisonville that ceased publication went to work for us and eventually became the publisher there—after a slightly modified application of the aforementioned OISU achievement test. The publisher at the Meteor was not working out, calling for what Jim termed, “a pitching change.” Planning to make that change the next morning before the newspaper office opened, I called Edna the afternoon before asking what time she usually arrived at the office. She told me, then added without pausing, “I don’t want the publisher’s job.” Edna was perceptive like that. When she arrived the next morning, I was there and had already sent the current publisher “to the dugout.” I told Edna I understood that she didn’t want to be the publisher, but could she hold it together until I could find one. She did, but every time I talked to her, the first question was “have you found a publisher yet,” to which I replied, “no, but I’m still looking, Edna—really hard.” Weeks passed with Jim asking if Edna was ready to go yet. Finally, the call came. “If that publisher’s job is still open,” Edna said, “I would like to apply.” I laughed and told her, “What took you so long,
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Jim thought you would never give in.” Edna was an outstanding publisher at Madisonville and at Boerne when she followed me as publisher there. In the mid-90s came the purchase of the Marble Falls Highlander and properties in that direction. A new facility housing both the newspaper offices and management company offices on top of a hill overlooking the city was soon under construction. Robert Swonke was already in Taylor running the printing operation and assumed the publisher’s position with Jim’s move to Marble Falls. During that time, Mark Henry, Richard and Tia Stone joined the company at Marble Falls. The move to Marble Falls also marked the inception of a new name for the company, one that exemplified strength and stability. Hence, the new company name: Granite Publications. In December of 1997, I tendered my resignation with plans to buy the Monitor at Naples in East Texas, the weekly where I started my journalism journey. My deal was made but the closing was set for a few months down the road. Knowing that Edna was next in line to publish Boerne, I offered to leave early allowing her the opportunity to start with the new year in 1998. Jim said if I wanted to do that, I could fill in as interim publisher in Marlin until my closing. Life lesson learned: There may be more extreme examples of culture shock than moving from Boerne to Marlin, but I cannot think of any. The move proved to be good experience learning about tough times in struggling markets, experience that proved to be invaluable at Naples. I’m thinking Jim knew that when he made me an offer I possibly could have refused, but fortunately did not. It would be 15 years before Jim made me one more offer I couldn’t refuse. We kept in touch and our paths continued to cross including an invitation to make presentations at a publisher’s meeting at Granite Ranch near Roosevelt. In 2013, Jim called with news that his first acquisition as a newspaper owner, Center, was for sale. The deal was closed in November, and I eagerly agreed to assist there in my spare time as my “day job” allowed. Looking for other properties in East Texas to complement Center, I discovered that the newspaper in my hometown of Mount Pleasant, where my mom had worked years ago, could be bought. Just as he had tendered the question about a return to the newspaper business before, Jim said that should I ever consider hanging up my marketing hat at my current job, to let him know. That was all it took and Jim returned me to the newspaper business … one more time in February of 2014. Just as journeys sometimes do, this one took a different path lasting for just a brief time. The result was the same as the others, however, the adventure was not in the destination but in the journey.
This was on Deception Island and the hot water coming up through the sand. Just after Charles and Jim warmed up they ran and dove into the water at 34 degrees with other cruise members.
Dusty Rhodes, Davis Tuma, Jim Chionsini, Albert Thompson and CA Samford.
Jim’s boat docked at Hemmingway’s Marina outside of Havana, Cuba. Jim and Charles made the trip from Key West in Oct. 1997.
I happened onto a saying recently that is not an Old Italian Saying that I am aware of, but as Jim has hinted before, it could easily become one: “A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles.” My journey would have been vastly different without Jim’s friendship, professional mentoring, Old Italian Sayings and his blind faith in me. While many of us thought we were learning the blind faith theory in the beginning by casting our lot with Jim, we slowly realized that blind faith was a two-way street. I cannot imagine having had a better journey, or a more fulfilling adventure than being a part of Jim’s 40 years of newspaper ownership.
40th Anniversary Newsletter
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Memo from the desk of Carmage Walls This letter was written by me (Carmage Walls) to a young man who was coming into publishership. I had not had the opportunity of giving him my personal beliefs about the operation of a newspaper. I thought it might be useful in introducing myself, so that you might also get this in capsule form.
opportunities for service that they hold. If they do not the should be sold on these opportunities or eventually failing that, they should be replaced. Where unnecessary functions are being performed or unnecessary positions being filled these should be eliminated. Where luxury items or duplicate services are being bought and June 1953 not used, these should be pared down to the necessities and what the organization can afford. Keep in mind that we are not I have not had the opportunity of discussing with you my personal able to print a big town paper on a small town economy and philosophy about service, personal and as a newspaper man, not have potential. But, also keep in mind that we want to strive for one we discussed much the philosophy about printing a newspaper. of the best newspapers in cities of our size. First my personal philosophy is rather simple. It is that wealth After the above things have been done then it is time to look cannot be made by doing nothing, nor can we expect long to acquire to the additional revenue. So many newspapers make a big something for nothing. Therefore, I have always striven, to earn and continuing effort to sell display lineage and overlook other more, or to put it another way to give more into the world than I opportunities to add to their profit or income. expect to take out for my own use and for the use of those that I am Look at your circulation and see that there is no waste. That responsible for. is always a possible source of losing revenue through loose The same philosophy will partly apply to the newspaper. My handling of the department or letting money that should end in conception of a newspaper is that it is the greatest force for good or the cash register vanish into thin air. Efficiency in the department evil in a community. It is a semi-public utility. We who are fortunate in that does not curtail service and subscribers that can be handled holding stock in a newspaper I consider but temporary at least on a break even basis is a must. custodians of this service vehicle in the community. By Look to the national advertising selling. Just “Spend less money our ownership of the stock we also assume tremendous because we have a contract with a national rep. do than you take in.� responsibilities, first to the public that we serve, second not sit back and cuss him for lack of performance. to the employees and lastly to the stockholders. We have proven that national is also sold locally. We who are responsible for the publication of Let’s arrange to have that worked to its maximum - Carmage Walls newspapers must have the courage to never connive and when the national rep. that we have finishes with special interests against the interest and the his contract we will join our own. welfare of the mass of people that we serve. We must have the Look to the classified department. My theory on the selling courage to do that which may be unpleasant to maintain the health of classified is that the last dollars that you squeeze out of this of the whole being of the newspaper. department, that if the selling cost of composing, production And to maintain the health nothing can do this so much as first and newsprint on which to print these last ads do not cost more keeping our minds on the matter of service to the mass that we serve, than 50% of each sales dollar, that the remainder will go into the and second keeping the property in the black financially enough so profit column. On the face of this it seems contradictory, but that you cannot ever feel that you can be coerced into doing that which when you consider that if you do not sell this additional copy, you feel should not be done or leave undone that which should be that it does not reduce your fixed costs of printing, such as rent, done for the betterment of our communities and our newspaper. editorial and other costs, you will then see the soundness of the With these things in mind then we can approach the problem theory. I have proven it to be my own satisfaction. objectively. And then lastly look to the development of new business in the As publisher, to bring this about on financial health, that is, you display department. The same philosophy that I have applied should do the following: to classified will also apply to new business created or special Study each department of the newspaper and see if it is advertising sold in the display department. operating efficiently. Determine if the attitude of the employees I developed a policy in Macon, Georgia where I last was directly a of each department is optimistic and one that understands the publisher of a newspaper, that provided for the following. After we
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were absolutely sure that the salesman that we had on the job were as good as we could obtain and that they were doing their maximum days work, and if after that we would ad another salesman. We did not divide up the accounts with this new salesman. He was plowing strictly in new ground. If he was good enough to bring in the first month twice the amount of his salary, from strictly new ground that would not have been worked by the older salesman, then we kept him on and watched him. If he continued to grow some from that point and continued the growth we kept him on as a regular. Another important thing that the manager of a newspaper must do is to have the courage to review his rates and to not be afraid to charge to make a good profit on the other. And a correct charge does not mean what a neighboring newspaper may be charging. It might have a coward for a manager, who does not have the courage to charge what he should. That kind of manager will beat down his employees pay, print an inferior product rather than face his advertisers with a bill that would make it possible for him to pay fair wages, print a decent newspaper and make a good profit. And by good profit I mean one that is fairly large in these days of lush economy. If we do not make a good profit now, what shall happen to us when and if things are not as good economically as they are now? My theory on the lowest rate to quantity advertisers is arrived at as follows: From the total expense and that means all expense on the P&L statement, deduct circulation and all other non-advertising revenue. Divide into this remaining cost the number of paid advertising inches for the period under consideration. This will give you the cost per inch that advertising must carry in order to print. Some people will come up with the argument that department store advertising and other types should have
40th Anniversary Newsletter
special consideration because they are not as hard to set, etc. This is a fallacious theory. If you have any advertisers that go below this formula you would do well to act as rapidly as possible to bring them up within it. And finally if it is necessary to raise rates in order to have the financial health that is desirable, then raise the rates as rapidly and as definitely as necessary. Because a person was on the job when we take over the management of a newspaper does not mean necessarily that he is best fitted to that particular job. And sometimes we find people that are not fitted to the newspaper business. The correction of these situations are always difficult. However, when we consider that the quality of the product, that we are delivering to our subscribers is involved, and the permanence and welfare of those employees who do fit and earn their place, and when the situation is corrected. I have been accused of being tough in my approach to this particular type of situation. However, in all my experience I have not made a change in such a situation but what the person involved was done a great favor. Let’s hope that you do not have any such as one of your particular problems. Very sincerely, Carmage Walls P.S. And finally the formula of making a profit becomes ridiculously simple. Just, “SPEND LESS MONEY THAN YOU TAKE IN.� And it can be done.
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Mrs. Berry’s 100th birthday in June 1998. L-R: Mark Henry, Jim Chionsini and Robert Swonke. Berry is seated.
Bits & Pieces
"Sell hard and collect harder!"
“Things I thought you knew...”
One of my favorite stories is an example of how serious Jim has always been about collections. He and I were in his office in Marble Falls and he asked me if I wanted to go to lunch. Then he asked me to get the aging list of The Highlander’s and to round up a few more folks to go to lunch. He drove us to a fairly new cafe in Horseshoe Bay. We all walked in, got seated and placed our orders. When the check came Jim got it and walked up to the register to pay. It was like a $100 lunch or so and when the cashier rung it up and asked how Jim wanted to pay, he simply asked for the owner. The owner came out and Jim introduced himself and handed the guy his cafe’s unpaid statement for advertising with The Highlander and said, “So, we can take this off your bill or I can pay you and you can pay me. How would you like to handle it?” By now other folks were lining up to check out too and the utterly flummoxed cafe owner ran and got his checkbook, wrote us a check, Jim paid him for lunch and we all left. Nobody said a word until we reached the Tahoe in the parking lot. Then we just all cracked up, but he had made his point for all there that day!
One of my most favorite Jim C quotes and one I often repeat to those I work with is: “If I’m going to go broke, I’ll do it sitting on a beach drinking beer, not losing my tail off in a pressroom.” Jim has a unique ability to cast focus on what’s important and to bring those around him into that same vision. I believe Jim’s most important and valuable principle comes from his “Things I thought you knew…” Treating your employees with the same thoughtfulness and respect you want from your boss will reap bigger dividends than you ever thought possible.” Jim has a gift of making people of every stripe feel important and valued. His dedication to serving those who serve others is a great example of how we should all try to live our lives. In his more than four decades in the newspaper business, Jim has cast a long shadow. We who have had the opportunity to drift beneath that shadow are forever blessed.
Mark Henry
Rick Reynolds
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Jim Chionsini with Beverly DaughtryThis picture is framed and on my bookcase for everyone to see! You might have seen it when you were here in the dining room!
Jim Choinsini, Jim Beaver, Candace Velvin and Lois (sitting). Now retired, she was one of Mr. C’s longest-term employees. When this photo was made, she was publisher in Marlin. At that meeting, Jim was wearing a hat (left) topped with fake hair that looked like a cross between a toupee and a Chia Pet. Jim Chionsini presenting Beverly Daughtry with a fantastic gift - a Rolex Watch.
One of the first...
“I am so happy to tell everyone about how happy I was to have Jim Chionsini as my boss! Everything he told me I should do, I agreed! Thoughts he believed in, such as, “If it is not about your hometown, it is not news!” He was definitely right. I made sure everything I published was about Elgin and the area, Elgin, McDade, etc.! Not about events hundreds of miles away. He also wanted me to take care of our advertisers and I did! I not only helped our advertisers with their ads, but took their personal pictures at events also and published them. This made them want to advertise with me even more! He even surprised me at a couple of publishers’ meetings when he complimented me on being over 50 percent on my performance percentage for the month. At the 50 Years Of service To The Elgin Courier Surprise Party which he sponsored in my honor, he spoke and honored me with a beautiful Rolex Watch. He was a wonderful speaker besides being a wonderful boss! Jim also sent me numerous Year End emails saying, “Congratulations on another excellent year and an outstanding performance, etc.” I definitely miss working with him!!”
Lois Cooper started at the East Texas Light in Tenaha in the 1970s and helped supervise the move of the press and all other operations to Center - to the current location of the Light and Champion. That was in the early 1980s - shortly after that, Jim purchased the Center Champion and merged the two newspapers into The Light and Champion. I first went to work at the L&C in 1987 as editor - but at that time, it was owned by Phillip Smith’s company, PTS. I worked with Lois there for several years until she left to go back to work for Granite and eventually went to publish the Marlin Democrat. I also worked briefly with Brandi’s mom, Janet, and we became friends. As you may know, Jim Beaver also worked for PTS and was publisher in Center a couple of times - Lois and I worked with him in the late 1980s. He went back to Center in the late 1990s. After working five years in Missouri I returned to Texas in 2001 to succeed Beaver as publisher in Center. I left PTS a few months after my first husband passed away in late 2004 and went to work for Granite in 2005 in Diboll. Lois and I again worked together when I transferred to Cameron and she was just across the county line in Marlin. While I had known Brandi, Janet and Lois for many years, I had never met Jim C before 2005. Lois retired from Marlin in 2010. Sorry to say I lost contact with her after that...she and Robert Swonke probably know all kinds of stories about Jim C.
Beverly Daughtry
Candace Velvin
A wonderful boss!”
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Building the press
Construction of the new Granite press building out on County Road 374 occurred from 2009 to 2010.
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Rick Reynolds served as Granite’s president from 2001 until 2011.
Chionsini family buys The Light & Champion newspaper in Center, Texas. Left to right: Jennifer Chionsini-Cortez, Brandi Chionsini, Dale Buie, Jim Chionsini. Later, Dale Buie took over operations of Granite Printing.
Left to Right: Billy Parnell, Rick Reynolds, Jim Chionsini and Robert Swonke bringing in the new press in 2009.
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New home, new family By Patti Slavych
My journey with Granite Publications began in August 2004. I day. He said that his wife Macy and him would be nowhere without was living in Conroe, Texas with my young son and working for the good people that worked for them and that they appreciated the Cleveland Advocate, one of many papers owned by HCN. I everything their employees did on the daily basis. He also said was content with the paper and the people I worked with but not that everyone was one big family. This made a big impact on me. with living in Conroe. I was wanting to find a smaller community So, I called Brandi, submitted my resume, came to Taylor for to move to where I felt my son would be safer and life would be an interview. David King was the publisher and he met me on a better for him. Saturday morning to interview me and my son. He welcomed us So, in August, a friend of mine was working for Sealy News, to Taylor, told us about the community (which was just what I was and he called me one day and asked if I was still looking to move. looking for to raise my son in) and told me about the good people, He mentioned that a paper called the Taylor Daily the Chionisinis, who owned the company. Press, managed by Granite Publications, was With such high praise from their employees, I “I still come to looking for a graphic artist. He had mentioned my took the job with the Taylor Daily Press and started work every day name to Brandi Chionsini. He proceeded to tell my journey with Granite Publications. Since then, me about the company. I have moved to the Granite Publications creative and enjoy my job.” Now you need to know that I am the kind of department and have become Ad Services person that I believe you have to be happy where Manager. - Patti Slavych you work. Let’s face it, we all spend more of our I still come to work every day and enjoy my job. time at work than we usually get to spend with our From the first time I met Jim, he has always shaken families. So it is very important that you should enjoy being there. my hand and talked to me as if we have known each other forever. If you hate your job, you aren’t going to give it your best. And I Both Macy and Jim always come to say hello whenever they come have always believed you should give it 100% plus. into Taylor. They truly make you feel like family. They have always My friend Jim Webre told me he had recently gone to a family brightened my day with their greetings and hugs because I know picnic. He had told me about the friendly, family atmosphere and that they are as glad I am here as I am. how welcoming the people were. He said they made you feel as if I guess you could say I love my job and am happy to be a part of you belong. The one thing that caught my attention was when he the Granite family. Thank you, Jim and Macy Chionsini, for letting told me that the owner, Jim Chionsini, had gotten up and made me be a part of this wonderful journey for the last 14 years, and I a speech and thanked all his employees for their hard work every look forward to many more to come.
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Meeting Mr. C By Jim Beaver In the spring of 1982, I was selling newspaper advertising for a small daily with three shoppers in the heart of America…Festus, Mo. I was not prepared, nor could not have imagined what would take place in the next 60 days, changing the course of me and my wife Penny’s life. It was the summer of 1982, June, I believe, when I got the call from a former colleague. After leaving our newspaper group in Festus, he had landed in the small south Texas town of Weslaco. After asking him where Weslaco was he went on to explain that it was in the Rio Grande Valley. After asking him where the Rio Grande Valley was, you get the picture. He proceeded to tell me he was working for another newspaper group owned by Mr. Jim Chionsini. After a few months of working at my new job, I was told Mr. Chionsini would be flying in the next day, and I should be prepared to meet him in the morning when he gets here. The next morning came too soon. Many thoughts went through my mind as to what he looked like, was he going to be easy to get along with or not? Then he came through the front door. Just as I pictured. He was medium-built with a full head of dark hair. After small talk with the publisher he came over to me and we shook hands. He then said
Left to right: Jim Chionsini, Jim Beaver
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what I wanted to hear...we were doing a great job and keep it up. The fear that I had in meeting Jim Chionsini was over and for the next few years we got together whenever he was in town, each time going across the border to Mexico to get some real Mexican cuisine. We still talk about that. Soon after, Jim sold our newspaper to another group, and I didn’t think I would ever see him again. I was wrong. After 7 years in Weslaco I was transferred to a small east Texas town of Center to publish my first newspaper. I remember there were several changes I had made, most of which worked out. Jim Chionsini happened to live in Center at the time, and several times he gave me kudos for making some of those changes, saying they needed to be done and it’s about time someone did it. Off and on through the years we got together, but over the next several years I transferred to other newspapers in other states. It was not until June 2008 when I rejoined Granite Publications. Ironically, on the first week of my employment I was invited to the publishers meeting being held in Port Aransas. On the first night while outside on one of the balconies, I saw Jim standing nearby. He slowly walked over and whispered, “Beavers” (he always called me Beavers) “If you leave me again I’ll have to kill you.” Those were the kindest words I had ever heard.
Young Jim Beaver with hair. Not many people remember that...
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Granite Publications in Marble Falls, 1997
Building a brand By Jim Chionsini
This story was originally written in 2003. At the insistence of my daughter Brandi, this is a recap some of the more memorable events that have brought us to where we are. I thought, too, there might be interest in how the Granite group is structured (or unstructured). I spent eight years working for different newspapers owned by Mr. Carmage Walls, in Galveston; Laredo; Presque Isle, Maine; Beaumont; Rosenberg and La Marque. I received a great education working and learning from people such as Les Daughtry, Jim Hale, Mr. Fred Hartman, Bruce Morrisse and Fred Hartman. It was 40 years ago in May since I purchased my first newspaper. On May 2, 1978, with the help of Ben Smith, owner of Smith Newspapers of Fort Payne, Ala, I signed the papers to become the new owner of the East Texas Light, in Center, Tex., a small weekly newspaper about 10 miles from the Louisiana border. My wife and I literally bet every nickel we had and could borrow to make this venture work. Without the support of my dad’s old partners, Fred Heineman and Charles Hurchins this would never
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have been possible. One year later I purchased a printing company owned by Loyd Grissom, who sold me the East Texas Light. Robert Swonke was the foreman. When Loyd said that Robert came with the deal, I explained that if he didn’t, I wasn’t interested in his company. A 39-year relationship began that day. It certainly doesn’t seem all that long ago since Robert, Albert, Leon and I moved the small News King press to Center from Teneha. As a side note, that press is still there churning out weekly print jobs. In September of the next year, the Herald Democrat in Siloam Springs, Ark., was acquired from George and Carolyn Perrine. Albert Thompson became the publisher and another great partnership was created. We perplexed the huge Don Rey Media folks by buying this newspaper from under their nose. Fort Smith, 60 miles from Siloam was their headquarters and Ross Pendergraft never did understand how we got in there without them knowing it was for sale. Ross and I remained friends until he died some years later. We named our management company Shelby Newspapers, Inc. Our old friend Bob Tanner, who passed away in 2000, was hired as our lawyer and we were off and running. Lois Ann Cooper came to work with us later that year and along
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with Leon Aldridge, was instrumental in getting the East Texas do this or that when this latest crisis was over.” I always knew Light to a point where we were able to acquire our competitor when I pushed too hard because she’d have the Christian radio in Center (The Champion) from Mildred and Bob Pinkston. We channel turned up (way up). Albert and I divided Dixie and Community in 1992, selling the considered naming the survivor the “Light Champion” but thought folks might think we were in the boxing business so we Malden Press-Merit outright and Albert taking the Tennessee press plant and the Ripley, Miss., newspaper. I retained the added “and” between them. We added seven other papers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Texas papers. In October 1992, the Bandera Bulletin and the Boerne Star — the Sabine County Reporter in Hemphill; the San Augustine Rambler; the Town Crier in Weslaco; the Tahlequah (Okla.) News; joined the Texas Dixie group when they were acquired from Bill the Jay (Okla.) Beacon; Grove (Okla.) Beacon, and the Ulysses Dozier of Kerrville. In February 1993, the Marlin Democrat was added when it was purchased from the Boone Group, bringing (Kan.) News. In 1983, the newspaper group was sold to Pat Smith (no the total to seven newspapers. Dixie Newspapers doubled in size in April 1993 with the relation to Ben) who eventually sold it to Ben’s son Philip. In 1985 I bought Dixie Newspapers, a newspaper brokerage addition of the Taylor Daily Press, the Elgin Courier, the Hill Country News in Cedar Park, company, from Pick the Thorndale Champion, William’s estate shortly the Granger News and the after he passed away. He Bartlett Tribune that were was Mrs. Walls’ father. bought from the Schulz Albert joined as partner family. The Bartlett and and we began purchasing Granger papers were sold newspapers. to Gayle Bielss who had My first newspaper job been running them for Mr. was at the Galveston Daily Schulz. News where I peddled Sweat Equity Newspapers advertising. Mr. Les (SEN Inc.) was formed in Daughtry hired me and my December 1994, and the life was changed forever. Hill Country News was sold He remained my mentor into it. It was designed to and friend until his death. be owned by employees of Several of his employees Dixie (now Granite) related invested in our first couple newspapers. Don Moore of ventures in a company effectively headed this we named Community company and successfully Newspapers with Albert guided it through many and me responsible for pitfalls associated with the management. Our suburban markets. first purchases in the new In 1995, the Highlander in company included the Marble Falls and the Burnet Malden (Mo.) Press-Merit, Bulletin were acquired from Rick Reynold served as Republic Newspapers of publisher, the (Ripley, Miss.) Tennessee and the Dixie Sentinel and a printing Jim Chionsini (left) and Robert Swonke. office was relocated from plant in Middleton, Tenn. Lufkin to Horseshoe Bay. Together, we also bought Mark Henry, who came the Fort Stockton Pioneer in to us through the Taylor October 1988, from Frank acquisition, headed up Baker; the Madisonville Meteor in May 1990, from good friend Charles Moser and Mr. those companies and looked after the others. Sean French was Fred Hartman; the Sealy News in February 1991, from Earl and the publisher and Richard Stone the editor. Over the next four years, four more newspapers were acquired Betty Leudeke; and the Gonzales Inquirer in June 1991 from and a second printing plant was established — the Cameron Edward and Dorothy Reece. Edna Keesling published a competing newspaper in Herald in January 1996, the Alpine Avalanche in December Madisonville at the time. We were very lucky to be able to buy it 1996, the Mason County News in July 1997 and the Colorado a year and a half later from George Brogdon and Randy White. County Citizen in Columbus in September 1998, and Granite Printing located in Round Mountain in October 1997. Edna came on board and another great relationship began. Dixie Newspaper’s name was changed to Granite Publications, In September 1987, I relocated from Center to Lufkin and Nona Bailey started as a part time bookkeeper and vice president of LLC in 1997. In 1998, the Kingsland Current, a small weekly, was started keeping Leon and me in line. She was my right-hand person until she partially retired in 2004. Back then we were buying and added to the Highlander group. In that same year, the newspapers at a hectic pace and our favorite saying was “we’d Mason newspaper was sold to Scott Wesner whose father, Ken,
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owns the Llano News and in March 2000, the three Highlander Bulletin, Ory Boney heads up Granite Printing while Richard newspapers were sold. Davis and Patti Slavych oversee Creative Services. Rick Reynolds rejoined Granite’s family and served as president Some of the old guard is still around: Richard Stone publishes from 2001 to 2011. Jim Barnes joined as CFO in 2002. Their the Taylor Press, Dayna Haynes The Anahuac Progress and individual and combined efforts brought us to a new and more Brian Cartwright publishes The Boerne Star. Carrie Little from professional level of quality and performance. Shortly after Jim Navasota, Carolyn Hill, Grace Rangel, Tim Nemec and Phillip came on board we formed Granite Publishing Partners Inc which Gutierrez from Taylor have been with us for many years. was structured much like SEN Inc. Although it may appear to some that I have invested my In August 2002, the Navasota Examiner was acquired from the career building a newspaper chain, in my mind nothing could be Wesner family, and in November of that same year, the Rosebud further from the truth. Granite owns no stock in any newspaper News became part of Milam County Newspapers, which also but holds a management contract with each of them. Each included the Cameron Herald and the Thorndale Champion. The newspaper is either its own company or, as is the case of Boerne Rosebud News was purchased from John Kilgore who owned it and Bandera (because they were purchased at the same time) for many years. one corporation. The same is true for Taylor and Elgin. In 2001, the Granite office relocated to Taylor and in My personal belief is a publisher should have editorial December of that year, Central Composing started building ads autonomy as long as they adhere to high journalistic standards for the Madisonville Meteor, Bandera Bulletin and Fort Stockton while always keeping in mind the way we serve our readers is to Pioneer. write about our town and schools. No other media can do this In June 2004, Hill Country Newspapers (Bandera and Boerne) like us and to do less is unfair to our subscribers, employees, purchased their competitors, the Hill Country Recorder and the stockholders and the franchise of the newspaper. What happens Bandera Review from Denny Thomas. in other places isn’t important unless Under the tutelage of Leon Aldridge, it involves someone or something “I am very much aware that, our Edna Keisling and Brian Cartwright from our town. Mr. Hartman told me we’ve watched these newspapers employees and families are the once that, “generally people get more than double in pages and their name in the paper when they’re root of our success. Without revenue. born and when they die. Your job In May 2005, long time friends Dick son, is to see how many times you them we wouldn’t have been and Sally Richards sold the Aransas can make that happen between those Pass Progress and Ingleside Index to in a position to grow when the two events.” This was great advice us, and a month later, Temple-Inland from a wise man. timing was right. Many of these sold us the Diboll Free Press. Our publisher’s responsibilities The Liberty Vindicator and the folks are still with the company, include generating good revenues and Anahuac Progress were acquired from a fair profit. They have the financial some have gone on to other long time friend, Bill Hartman and latitude to operate as they seem fit became part of the Granite group on as long as the numbers and quality jobs, but each has played an the last day of March 2006. remain “within the railroad tracts.” The Diboll Free Press was sold in essential role in our success.” Our business plans are as diverse December 2007 to Bill Woodall, who as our publishers and the towns they owned the Kilgore newspaper. serve. I believe today, as I have since Over the past 10 years we’ve Jim Chionsini 1978, that each newspaper, community, made additional improvements and employee and situation must be additions. We’ve added on to the handled individually and with care. printing press and installed a stitch and trimmer. We’ve sold off We use no “how to run a newspaper handbook” because what a few properties and spun some off into a company owned and works in one situation or town doesn’t necessarily mean it will managed by my daughter Brandi. work somewhere else. Son, JT and his wife Shelly, acquired the Alpine Avalanche a While we do have a central accounting office, we don’t screen few years ago and love living there. Both Brandi and JT are doing great jobs running their our calls, fret over titles, have no home office or use acronyms own companies. Macy and I are very proud of what they’re no one understands. We leave words such as “corporate” to the big boys. These things set us apart from “faceless chains.” accomplishing. I am very much aware that our employees and families are the Under Daniel Philhower’s guidance, Granite is systemically adjusting to the technical changes our industry is facing while root of our success. Without them we wouldn’t have been in a keeping our long-time culture in place. Valeri Stair, who’s position to grow when the timing was right. Many of these folks primary duty is money counter, Jim Beaver, the man that makes are still with the company, some have gone on to other jobs, but sure there’s money to count, and Monetta Dusek, who does each has played an essential role in our success. We begin our fifth decade with enthusiasm and confidence everything, make up Granite’s management team. that we will continue to grow and remain an integral part of the We’ve got some new and exciting folks leading our newspapers and departments. Machelle Banse publishes the Colorado communities we serve. Thanks again to all who made these last 40 years possible, County Citizen, Ana Cosino– The Navasota Examiner, Jennifer Richardson– The Liberty Vindicator, Bill Peck– The Bandera profitable and fun.
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Jim and Macy Chionsini
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Here’s to 40 more...
Thank you, Jim!