Farewell Principal

Last week the Ohio County Times-News and WXMZ lost a beloved co-worker and friend. Tressie Brown, who has been a fixture in the Ohio County newspaper industry for over 50 years passed away Feb. 2.

Brown has been in the newspaper industry in Ohio County since 1968. Whether it was selling advertisements and subscriptions, setting type or waiting on customers, Ohio Countians were accustomed to seeing her smiling face around the county’s newspaper offices for over 50 years.

Brown began working for the Ohio County Messenger in Beaver Dam where she sold ads and subscriptions over the phone as well as working a couple of days a week in Leitchfield at the Grayson County News. She eventually began proofreading and making corrections to the newspaper before taking over as the typesetter.

When the Andy Anderson Corp. purchased the Messenger, she continued to work for them until the newspaper closed in 2004 when she came to work at the OCTN where she served as office manager, waited on customers and proofread.

“Tressie was such a delight to work with and always had a smile on her face,” said OCTN Editor Dana Brantley. “She was my go-to person. Anytime I needed to know the name of someone, how to spell a name or where something was located, I knew to go to Tressie. I often teased her that if she didn’t know someone that they must not really exist because she knew everyone in Ohio County. She was a blessing and a treasure, and she will be missed in so many ways.”

Those who listen to WXMZ 99.9’s lunch show, Lunch at the Z, may know Brown as “The Principal” a moniker the show’s host Jerry Wright gave her because she helped keep him “in line.” With the studio inside the building with the Ohio County Times-News, Tressie helped Wright with radio contests and other tasks. He often mentioned her on-air and would invite her in the studio during the show

“Tressie was very special. She was always a ray of sunshine. She made our days brighter,” Wright said. “She and I had our own little fun banter between each other and people said they loved our shtick. I will miss that. I will miss her.”

Community awards given out by WXMZ also bear her name. Several years ago, Wright decided the station should give out awards to people who go above and beyond to make Ohio County a better place. He named the Awards “The Tressies.”