Monday, April 29, 2024
In 1983, when she was just 23 years old, Barbara Hopson was asked to become a weekly correspondent for the Gatesville Messenger. Little did she know at the time that she would be writing the same column 40 years later.
In years past, a great majority of small communities in Coryell County had correspondents who submitted articles to the paper each week with news from their community. At one time, there were as many as six correspondents working for the paper from rural communities such as Turnersville, Izoro, Coryell City, Levita, Purmela, as well as several others. One such community was Mound and that’s where Barbara Hopson steps into the picture.
John Frank Post was the publisher of the Gatesville Messenger when Barbara was recruited to write a column. In February of 1983, Barbara began writing her weekly column “Mound News.”
“I was at the post office when they asked me to start writing the column,” Hopson said.
Hopson talks to people in the community, finds out what is happening with neighboring families, and incorporates the latest news into her article.
“I call everybody to get my news – the residents of Mound. They don’t call me, I call them,” Hopson said.
“I enjoy writing news for the Messenger so that way I can visit with folks, and put in what news they want to share,” she said.
Over the years, the small-town correspondents have dwindled away. Today, only two remain, Mound News by Barbara Hopson and Pearl News by Betsy Clark.
“I have no plans of retiring. I know everybody loves it and Janice Velasquez (at the Gatesville Messenger) keeps me going,” Hopson said.
A surprise reception with family and friends was recently held at the Gatesville Messenger to honor Hopson’s 40 years of commitment to the newspaper. Having no idea that she was being honored, Hopson said, “They really pulled a good one on me today.”
