Record, Behlen Win Big at South Texas Press Awards

The Fayette County Record took home several of the biggest awards at the 96th annual South Texas Press Association’s Newspaper Contest over the weekend.

The awards were announced Friday in Corpus Christi and were for journalism work done in 2021.

The Record won first place in General Excellence among all semi-weekly newspapers in the contest and the Record’s Andy Behlen was named South Texas Press Association Journalist of the Year and South Texas Press Asso ciation Photographer of the Year (competing against all journalists regardless of classification with a wide-ranging package of his stories and photos).

Judging was done by members of the Texas North & East Press Associations.

Other awards won by the Record include:

First place Special Section: For the 2021 Fall/Winter Visitors Guide

First Place in Humorous columns: For work done by Jeff Wick

First Place in News Photography: For work done by Andy Behlen

First Place in Feature Photos: For work done by Jeff Wick

First Place in Sports Coverage: for work done by Jeff Wick

Second Place in Ad Design: For work done by John Castaneda

Second Place Serious columns: For work done by Jeff Wick

Third Place Sports Photos: For work done by Audrey Kristynik and Jeff Wick

Third Place in Headline Writing: For work done by Jeff Wick

Honorable mention News Writing: For work done by Andy Behlen

Honorable Mention Editorial Writing: For work done by Jeff Wick and Andy Behlen.

The Record was also second to the Uvalde Leaders-News in the sweepstakes category among semiweekly newspapers for most (and highest) awards won.