PNT welcomes new managing editor

A Portales native has been named managing editor of the Portales News-Tribune.

Karl Terry, 46, assumed his new duties last week.

Terry recently moved to Portales with his wife Carol after living the last nine years in Carbondale, Colo. He assumes the position formerly occupied by Kevin Wilson.

Wilson will remain in the PNT newsroom, while also taking on a new role coordinating some of Freedom Newspapers of New Mexico’s special projects.

“I’m extremely happy to be back in Portales after being away for more than 25 years,” Terry said. “It will be great to reconnect with family and friends.”

Terry began his newspaper career at the PNT as a carrier in junior high school, working his way through the mailroom and pressroom while attending Portales High School and Eastern New Mexico University.

He transferred to the Quay County Sun in Tucumcari in 1979 shortly after the two papers were purchased by Southern Newspapers Inc. Terry was at the Sun for 13 years, working both advertising sales and in the newsroom before being named editor and publisher there in 1990.

He was editor and publisher of the Daily Tribune in Bay City, Texas, before moving to Colorado, where he was editor and publisher of The Valley Journal in Carbondale from 1996-2002.

“While it’s easy for me to spot changes throughout the community there are a lot of things about Portales that never changed,” Terry said. “The people are just as friendly and hard working as ever and Pat’s Twin Cronnies still has the thickest milkshake in town.”

Terry said he is looking forward to hearing from readers on how the newspaper is serving the community and welcomes anyone with a question or concern to drop in or call him.

“I feel a huge responsibility in returning to the newsroom of my hometown paper,” Terry said. “As a news organization we must do everything possible to earn the community’s trust each and every day. If we do that correctly success will follow.”