Cromeens Named Abilene editor

By: Barton Cromeens has been named editor of the Abilene Reporter-News, succeeding Terri Burke.

Burke retired in March and Cromeens, who has worked at the paper for 11 years, had served as interim editor since then.

The appointment was announced to the newspaper staff Friday by George H. Cogswell III, president and publisher of the Abilene Reporter-News.

Cogswell said Cromeens understands the importance of "community" and will "ensure that the Reporter-News provides a real-time window of intensely local content to both our print and on-line readers."

Cromeens said he has always had a fascination with newspapers and the role they play in a community.

"There's no better example of a community-minded newspaper than the Reporter-News, which is as old as the town itself," Cromeens said. "It is respectful and dedicated to its print-based tradition, core values and mission but open-minded about how it ushers in both its future and that of the community."

Cromeens joined the newspaper as a staff writer in 1996. He also has served as a photojournalist, photo editor, assistant managing editor of presentation, and managing editor during his career with the paper.

He previously worked at The Williamson County Sun in Georgetown, Bastrop Advertiser and Waxahachie Daily Light.

He holds two bachelor's degrees, in communications and in Spanish, from Southwestern University in Georgetown.