Blair named to Hall of Fame

Newspaper foundation names 4 to Hall of Fame
Elite News’ publisher Bill Blair to be honored

AUSTIN — The Texas Newspaper Foundation has selected four exemplary journalists – William Blair Jr., Randy Mankin, Frank Mayborn and Burl Osborne — for induction into the Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame in June.

The induction ceremony will take place during the Texas Press Association 2026 Convention and Trade Show Hall of Fame banquet at Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport at 11:45 a.m. Friday, June 19.

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

William Blair Jr.
Oct. 17, 1921- Apr. 20, 2014
Elite News, Dallas

William Blair Jr. was born in Dallas in 1921, attended Booker T. Washington High School, and served as the U.S. Army’s youngest Black first sergeant during World War II. He played Negro League baseball from 1946 to 1951, pitching a no-hitter and touring with prominent figures like Jesse Owens.

After an injury ended his baseball career, Blair founded the Highlight News and later the Southwest Sports News, which became the Elite News, a Black community newspaper in Dallas.

Blair’s newspaper became a respected voice for African Americans by emphasizing truth and community issues, including churches, politics, and sports. Under his leadership, the Elite News hosted the first African American awards night in Dallas and initiated the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade.

Blair was a civil rights activist for more than six decades, advocating for political engagement, religious recognition, and community development.

Blair’s efforts included establishing the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, supporting local history, and mentoring future leaders.

He transitioned in 2014 at age 92, leaving a lasting impact on journalism, sports and civil rights in Dallas and beyond.

Randy Mankin
The Eldorado Success, Big Lake Wildcat and Devil’s River News
Through his company Masked Rider Publishing, Inc., based in Eldorado, Randy Mankin owns and publishes three community newspapers, The Eldorado Success, Big Lake Wildcat and Devil’s River News. He also operates a print shop and photography studio.

He has reported on local and major stories, most notably the coverage on raid of the Yearning for Zion Ranch’s leader Warren Jeffs in 2008.

The Mankin family has been in the newspaper business since 1994. They say the success of their three newspapers is rooted in the daily grind required to report the everyday happenings of the everyday people in and around Schleicher, Sutton and Reagan Counties.

Mankin’s newspapers have earned a long list of honors, including seven Texas Press Association sweepstakes awards. He and his wife, Kathy, are also recipients of the Outstanding News Media Award from the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association. A formal resolution by the Texas House of Representatives, H.R. No 407, passed on March 16, 2023 in honor of his achievements.

Mankin served as president of both the West Texas Press Association and the Texas Press Association. He remains active on industry boards, including the Texas Newspaper Foundation.

His community involvement includes five years on Eldorado City Council, five as city administrator. He has served 29 years on the board of the Schleicher County Hospital District, the last 25 years as president leading efforts to build a new hospital and healthcare facilities.

Married for 49 years, the Mankins have two children and four grandchildren, Kenna, Landon, Wyatt and Langly Jane. They are members of Community Baptist Church in Eldorado where Randy serves as a deacon and leads the adult Bible study class.
Their son, J.L. Mankin, is editor of the Big Lake Wildcat and the manager of Illusions Photography. Their daughter, Sarah Mankin, is a family practice physician in Lubbock.

Frank Mayborn
Dec. 7, 1903 – May 16, 1987
Temple Daily Telegram, Sherman Democrat, Killeen Daily Herald and Taylor Daily Press

Frank Mayborn began his newspaper career as a stringer for the Denver Post while still in high school. He was a summer worker at the San Diego Dispatch and later became a correspondent for the United Press wire service before becoming an advertising salesman for The Dallas Morning News. In 1929, along with his father and brother, Mayborn bought the Telegram Publishing Co., publisher of the Temple Daily Telegram. Later he also owned the Sherman Democrat, the Killeen Daily Herald and the Taylor Daily Press.

He was a communication pioneer in other media, too. In 1936 he started radio station KTEM in Temple; in 1945 he founded WMAK in Nashville; and in 1952 he founded KCEN-TV in Temple.

Mayborn enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in various posts, including the staff of Gen.Dwight D. Eisenhower, where he  was assistant chief of the U.S. public relations office. He earned a Bronze Star and left the military in 1945 with the rank of major.

As publisher in the Fort Hood region, Mayborn maintained his close ties to the military and effectively supported the economic, educational and political interests of his region.

He was an industry leader, a fierce advocate for his community, a tireless advocate for civic betterment and a generous benefactor to his fellow citizens.

Mayborn died of a heart attack on May 16, 1987. His name lives on through the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn Foundation, the Frank Mayborn Auditorium at Temple’s Cultural Activities Center; the Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas; and the Frank W. Mayborn Leadership Award, created in 2004 by the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association.

Burl Osborne
The Dallas Morning News
June 25, 1937 – Aug. 15, 2012
Not only was Burl Osborne an outstanding publisher and businessman, he was a true journalist. He is best remembered for being president and publisher of The Dallas Morning News and also served as chairman of the board of the Associated Press.

Osborne was hired by the AP soon after he graduated college in 1960 and worked for the wire service for 20 years. He started as a reporter in Bluefield, West Virginia, moved around the nation, became a bureau chief and eventually was managing editor of the AP’s worldwide news service.

In 1980, Osborne joined The Dallas Morning News, becoming the first “outsider” to be named executive editor in 50 years. Known by his staff as a tough, demanding editor, he insisted on accuracy, fairness and professionalism. He was a fierce competitor who insisted that his journalists keep attitude and opinion out of the news pages. It was a formula for phenomenal success. During his 20 years with the paper, The News more than doubled its circulation, was awarded six Pulitzer Prizes and in 1991 bought its competitor, the Dallas Times Herald.

Along the way, Osborne was actively involved in numerous civic and professional organizations and received many honors for his visionary leadership. He retired as publisher and editor of The News on Dec. 31, 2000. He remained on the company’s board of directors until May 2002 and held the title of publisher emeritus until 2007.
He died in Dallas on August 15, 2012.