Zechman promoted to Southern Standard publisher
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Having served as the newspaper’s general manager for the past 10 years, and prior to that, its managing editor, Zechman becomes the first woman publisher in the Standard’s 123-year history of providing news and information to the citizens of this community. While continuing her role as advertising director, Patrick now takes on the additional responsibilities of general manager. She began her association with the Standard in 1979 as an employee of the accounting department.
Employed in the pre-press department, Zechman began her career in newspaper in 1967 while attending Tennessee Tech.
Both women are active in church, civic and community organizations throughout the county and serve on various committees within the Tennessee Press Association. In 1987, Zechman was recognized by the Business and Professional Women’s organization as the Business Woman of the Year and this year Patrick was accorded the honor. In 1983, she received the club’s Young Careerist Award.
“It’s a pleasure to see hard work and a commitment to excellence rewarded, and both Pat and Sharon exemplify these characteristics,” Fryar said. “Their successes within Morris Newspaper Corporation and the newspaper industry are well documented, thus making these promotions especially appropriate.”
Fryar, who oversees all Morris Newspaper operations throughout Tennessee, including serving as president of Mid South Publishing Company in Murfreesboro, had been the Standard’s publisher since 1980.
The charter president of the Noon Exchange Club, Zechman serves as this year’s literacy chairman for the Tennessee Press Association, having previously served on the TPA board of directors. She is vice president for public relations of the local Chamber of Commerce and a charter member of the Park Theater restoration group. Zechman and husband, Bill, are the parents of three daughters, Christie Zechman Watson, Leslie Zechman and Lauren Zechman, and the grandparents of Bliss Zechman.
Patrick is past president of the Pioneer Youth Football organization and a past commissioner for the Warren County youth softball, T-ball and baseball association. The daughter of Elvin and Mabel Curtis of the Fairview community, Patrick is a member of Smyrna Church of Christ. Her son, Jason Patrick and wife, Tabitha, are the parents of 2-year-old Lucas Patrick.
In addition to her responsibilities as ad director, Patrick has coordinated the Standard’s Share A Christmas Dinner effort, which last year fed more than 500 local families during the holiday season.
“I feel so honored to receive this promotion,” said Patrick. “I’ve been at the Standard since I was 19 years old. The people here are my second family. I feel very blessed to be able to go to work everyday doing something I love.”
As publisher Zechman said, “We have an extraordinary team of people comprising our newspaper family. Their continuing commitment to excellence is evident in the many awards earned by the respective individuals and departments. It’s a privilege to work with people whose talent level and commitment to quality consistently put them at the top of the printing industry.
“Awards may not be everything, but it’s a pretty good sign something is right when, for the third consecutive year, the Standard earns the sweepstakes award as best in the large non-daily division in the state,” Zechman continued. “It took long hours and attention to detail by the entire Standard staff to make this happen. That’s the success story in this plant.”
Along with the appointments of Zechman and Patrick, Fryar announced the promotion of Smithville Review general manager Dennis Stanley to the position of publisher/editor of the weekly publication.