Published Thursday, February 6, 2025
by Dennis Phillips
I missed Robertson County
Last week, I returned home to the Robertson County News to resume my duties as Publisher after spending time in a new role since November 1, 2022. What was meant to be a 12-month contract was extended to 14 months, and now that it has finally concluded, I’ve come back as quickly as possible.
As many of you know, my wife, Teresa Phillips, passed away in February 2023 after a 14-month battle with colon cancer. Her mother, Dorothy, passed away just two months prior from the same disease. This was a difficult time for my family and me. I believed that a change in my job would improve my life, and it did.
My son, Roy McCoy, took the reins of this newspaper and did his best, but I think he and I both knew deep down that I would eventually return, despite several alternative options landing at my feet, including an offer to sell this newspaper. I turned that offer down and came home re-motivated to do the best job possible for Robertson County.
Center was never truly a home for us
Veronica and I took jobs at The Light and Champion in Center, Texas, which is part of Moser Community Media. At the time, the publisher was being replaced, and the newspaper was deeply in debt, functioning only as a shadow of its potential. When we arrived, the community was barely aware of the paper’s existence. With the help of a few new hires and some dedicated staff members already there, we successfully turned the newspaper around. We organized community events, launched a successful “Best of the Best” campaign, and produced a visually appealing newspaper filled with quality content. It was not an easy task, but it was certainly a rewarding one.
I cannot speak highly enough about the staff we collaborated with while rebuilding that newspaper. I would hire each one of them again and bring them to Robertson County if I could. This experience reminded me that a successful newspaper relies on dedicated people who genuinely care about their community and are committed to producing a quality product.
In this issue, you may have noticed that the type is larger and easier to read. Traditionally, newspapers use a font size of 10.9 points; in Center, I increased that to 12 points and loved the change. I hope you do too. I still use readers to read, and I suppose I’m just getting older. There are many other changes, additions, and improvements throughout the paper—too many to list.
So much to do, so little time
I have been back for exactly three days as I write this first editorial, and I cannot express how happy I am to be home. Yesterday, I reconnected with so many people who made me feel missed and appreciated. Now, my task is to reconnect the community with this newspaper. So, get ready, Robertson County, for some exciting events, including the return of the Hearne Fishing Derby, the Best of the Best Banquet, and a fun Halloween event we’ve planned in Center.
I have so much to share about my experience, but if I detailed everything, this column would never end, and I’d fill all the pages. Instead, I’ll just mention two more things: first, I married Veronica in August 2024, which was a joyful occasion, and second, we are already adding new and exciting features and those stories are included in this newspaper right now—so be sure to check them out.
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