McNeill retires after 56-year newspaper career

When Glenn McNeill Jr. and his wife, Betsy, sold their newspaper publishing company (Campbell-McNeill Publishing Company) in 1996, Glenn decided to stay on board for a time during the transition period, working three days a week in advertising.

That “transition period” turned into 20 faithful years of additional service to Van Zandt Newspapers L.L.C. working with his colleagues and his customers.

All of that came to a close this week as McNeill announced his retirement ending 56 years of dedicated service in the newspaper publishing business which began in 1960.

Although he is best known for his connections with county newspapers, he has contributed to the county in other ways. He was named Outstanding Citizen of Van Zandt  County in 1978, and he was president of the Van Zandt County Fair Association one year.

Of his work with the newspapers, he said, “I was still enjoying waking up and going to work so I kept working. I have always enjoyed the relationships that I have built and maintained with the customers through the years.”

A retirement ceremony honoring the former president of Campbell-McNeill Publishing Co. and advertising representative of Van Zandt Newspaper L.L.C. will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at the Wills Point Community Center.

McNeill, 79, was born in Stephenville and reared in Fort Worth. He is a 1955 graduate of North Side High School in Fort Worth, where he competed in basketball, track, and football.

After high school, he moved on to what was North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) in Denton, where he joined the basketball team as a walk-on.

“I got beat out for a spot on the team by a 6’-8” guy,” recalled McNeill. “I went to school there with the thought of getting into coaching as a profession.”

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