[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             RECOGNIZING WANDA ORTON'S CAREER IN JOURNALISM

                                 ______


                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 1994

  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to take time to salute an 
individual who recently retired after many years of serving her 
community. She isn't a politician or a government official, but the 
service she provided to Baytown, TX, has been extraordinary.
  For the past four decades Wanda Orton served the residents of 
Baytown, TX as a news reporter and editor at the Baytown Sun newspaper. 
Over the years, Wanda wrote and edited tens of thousands of news 
stories that kept the citizens of Baytown and east Harris County 
informed of news in their own local community, throughout the Nation 
and across the globe. Her skill, dedication, initiative, and fairness 
and earned her the respect and admiration not only of her readers and 
coworkers, but of other journalists as well.
  While Wanda's departure as managing editor--a position she held since 
late 1980--leaves a huge vacuum at the Baytown Sun, it finally gives 
Wanda and her husband, W. A. ``Skeeter'' Orton, an opportunity to relax 
and enjoy themselves without worrying about deadlines, layouts, or 
breaking news stories.
  Wanda truly is a journalist's journalist.
  She began her journalism career as the Baytown Sun's teen reporter 
for Robert E. Lee High School in 1952. Several months before her high 
school graduation, she began working parttime at the Baytown Sun after 
school and on Saturdays. Immediately following her high school 
graduation, she went to work at the Baytown Sun on a fulltime basis, 
dividing her work day between the front office and the news room. Wanda 
was soon promoted, being named assistant women's news (Lifestyle) 
editor in late 1952, and women's news editor in 1954.
  Three years later, Wanda moved to the news desk as a general 
assignment reporter--a position she relinquished in 1960 prior to the 
birth of her daughter. But a year later, in 1961, Wanda returned to the 
Baytown Sun when the newspaper needed help in covering Hurricane Carla, 
which slammed into the Texas coast. She continued working on the news 
desk until 1966, when she resigned to attend the University of Houston. 
In 1967, she returned to work on a part-time basis while still 
attending college.
  After earning her bachelor of arts degree in English in May 1970, 
Wanda returned to the Baytown Sun on a fulltime basis. A year later, 
she was promoted to associate managing editor--a position she held 
until being named managing editor in 1980.
  Over the years, Wanda covered the Baytown police and fire 
departments; the Lee College board of regents; the Goose Creek and 
Crosby independent school districts; the Baytown city council; Beach 
City city council; and politics in general--keeping her readers 
informed of the actions of their local governments, their local elected 
officials, their schools and educational institutions, and their public 
safety agencies.
  Wanda's hard work and dedication have long been recognized and 
appreciated by the readers of the Baytown Sun--but she has also been 
recognized by her fellow journalists and her community. She had earned 
writing awards from the Associated Press, the Gulf Coast Press 
Association, the Texas Press Association, the National Press Women's 
Association, and the Texas Press Women's Association.
  For her historical writing, she has received awards from the Texas 
chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as well as a plaque 
from the Harris County Historical Commission. Over the years, she has 
also been recognized by the Baytown City Council, which she covered for 
more than 10 years; the Baytown Jaycees; the Masonic Lodge; and the 
Girl Scouts. Also, for her work with local schools, she was named an 
honorary lifetime member of the Texas PTA Council.
  Mr. Speaker, few people have played a great role for as many years in 
informing the residents of Baytown and east Harris County of the news 
that most directly affects them as has Wanda Orton. Wanda's service to 
her community have earned her the respect and deep appreciation of her 
friends, coworkers, neighbors and readers. On the occasion of Wanda's 
retirement, I want to extend to her my own thanks for the 
professionalism and dedication which she consistently demonstrated at 
the Baytown Sun. Mr. Speaker, I know you join me in thanking Wanda 
Orton for the tremendous job she's done for her newspaper, her readers 
and her community since 1952, and in wishing her and her husband well 
in the years ahead.

                          ____________________