Often we have those in our midst that provide unmatched service that over time we simply come to expect. Sometimes it takes an event, a wakeup call such as a retirement, to remind us of the importance of that something that is with us daily.
One of those “somethings” that has been with us here in Milam County for the past 46 years is the professional journalistic reporting of Mike Brown. Mike has spent the past
Mike has spent the past 46 years of his professional life faithfully reporting the news of the county, week in and week out. He has covered every major event and most of the small ones since 1974. His reporting has consistently been accurate, unbiased and to the point. Most importantly his coverage of the happenings of the county has always been truthful.
In the day-to-day grind of running a newspaper, it would be easy to become closely associated with one group or one person to the point that coverage of an issue would be biased. Mike made it a point to never get close to those he covered. A hard task indeed. But he never did, so he could bring us an unbiased accounting of the events of the day. Mike received numer
Mike received numerous personal awards for his work and The Rockdale Reporter due to his reporting. Mike was named the Journalist of the Year by the South Texas Press Association, the nations largest regional press association, on not one but three separate occasions.
He won eight individual first-place awards from the Texas Press Association, which covers the entire State of Texas. The TPA awards individual writing awards in four categories: news, features, editorials and columns. Mike won them all, including four times for his editorials.
His skills as editor helped win The Reporter the best all around newspaper 10 times by the South Texas Press Association, once from the Texas Press Association and twice from the Gulf Coast Press Association.
These are unmatched, unparalleled accomplishments. And it all started almost 50 years ago when he asked The Reporter to print an article he wrote about a comet.
Monday the Milam County Commissioners Court recognized Mike and thanked him for his many years of courteous, professional reporting of the events of Milam County. The court presented Mike with a plaque thanking him for a job well done.
However, in spite of our best efforts it seems as if it is not enough for the heroic job that Mike has done to keep every citizen of this county truly and accurately informed for the past 46 years.
No doubt, after all of these years we have become accustomed to, and frankly expected to, receive the award winning, professional reporting that Mike has authored. No doubt he has been a Milam County journalistic hero in our midst all of this time.
On behalf of all Milam County, we say thank you, Mike Brown.
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