LG’s Larry Jackson to Be Inducted Into Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame

The Texas Newspaper Foundation announced the selection of three exemplary journalists — Dave Campbell (deceased), Suzanne Bardwell (deceased), and Larry C. Jackson (retired)— into the Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame for the year 2023.

Jackson is the retired editor and publisher of The Fayette County Record and still lives in La Grange.

The induction ceremony will take place during the Texas Press Association 2023 Convention and Trade Show at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock at 11:45 a.m. Friday, June 2. The Hall of Fame Banquet is sponsored by Explore Branson.

A selection committee met April 6 to select the inductees. The Austin-based Texas Newspaper Foundation created the Hall of Fame in 2006 to induct up to four individuals annually. Inductees have been credited with outstanding achievements and contributions to the newspaper industry and to their communities.

Dave Campbell is the founder of the famous Texas Football magazine that bears his name and Bardwell was a legendary journalist, teacher and library advocate from East Texas.

Here’s more about our local honoree, Larry C. Jackson: Larry C. Jackson’s career began with a bicycle newspaper delivery route in Austin and went on to include editor and publisher positions at daily and weekly publications in Texas and California.

After graduation from Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, Jackson took a summer job in the printing department of a book publishing firm. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of The Daily Texan staff along with Sam Fore Keach and Paul Burka, among others.

Jackson began his newspaper career with the Arlington Daily News and served as city editor of the Laredo Times, managing editor of the Henderson Daily News, editor of the Austin Citizen, and publisher of the Round Rock Leader, Pecos Enterprise, Corona-Norcal Independent, Wharton Journal-Spectator and the Fayette County Record.

A de facto emcee at state and regional association events due to his easygoing speaking style, Jackson ascended to serve as the Texas Press Association’s 121st president in 1998-99. He has a long line of service to both state and regional associations.

Jackson served as president of the South Texas Press Association in 1996-97 and was awarded the Jack Douglas Photo Sweepstakes Award from the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Association in 1987. He also served as Texas’ state chairman to the National Newspaper Association. He prides himself on having left the newspapers where he served as editor and/ or publisher in better shape than when he came on board. His newspaper career took him to the White House and to the town square, where he featured people who would not normally have appeared in the paper.

Jackson has been a member of Rotary Club since 1984, maintains active participation in events celebrating his Scottish roots, has written two historical books, and has served as an elder and deacon in his Church of Christ locations.

Jackson and wife Susie have three children and seven grandchildren — Nick (Janice) Jackson and Astrid; Debbie (Tracy) Weems, Lauren McClure and Luke McClure; Eddie Jackson, Simon, Joshua, Daniel and Eva Jackson.