Steve Hemphill of the Roanoke Times has been elected Third Vice president of APSE. Hemphill, who is in his 11th year as the sports editor at the southwestern Virginia daily, will assume the position from current Third Vice President, Dan Spears, in June.
Hemphill, who defeated Ed Reed, Gannett Deputy Regional Sports Editor for Florida, in the election, will serve a two-year term as third vice-president, starting in June.
Hemphill joined APSE in 1998, serving as the chair of the Atlantic Coast Region for two years (2016-17), in addition to being named chair of the Futures Committee.
Hemphill, who graduated from Colorado State University in 1989, spent more than a decade at the Longmont (Colo.) Daily Times-Call, working as a copy editor and sportswriter, before moving up to sports editor.
His journalism career began at the Scottsbluff (Neb.) Star-Herald, where Hemphill spent more than three years doing a number of tasks, including writing, design and editing.
Hemphill’s goal as the next Third Vice President is to pick up where Spears, who has held the position for two years, left off.
One of Hemphill’s goals is to give editors and writers at smaller newspapers the tips and guidance they want, so they can get the most of their APSE membership dues.
“I’ve always enjoyed being a member and being involved with APSE,” Hemphill said. “And the newspapers represented by the 3rd VP are in unique, but still different situations coast-to-coast.”
Hemphill praised his predecessor to his new role, who he’s gotten to know quite well over the years, calling Spears a man of the people.
“Dan Spears is an incredible leader and a great organizer of people. He’s really inspired me over the past six or seven years, both as a region president and now as third VP,” he said. “He didn’t win the election for 2nd VP this year, but I believe he will eventually move up in APSE leadership if that’s what he wants, and he would be a great APSE president.”
Hemphill knows how tough life is right now for journalist and editors at papers of all sizes—saying he was in the process of handling staff furloughs when the news broke that he won the election.
Hemphill praised Reed and called his leadership role an opportunity of a lifetime.
“It was very humbling. I think that I had a very worthy opponent and I expect him to also have his opportunities for APSE leadership in the future.”
Hemphill said he’s excited to work with current APSE President, Todd Adams, as well as the rest of the leadership team, in the weeks and months ahead.
“I’d say that the current leadership right now are folks that I’ve gotten to know and have always admired, and I look forward to working with all of them,” Hemphill said.
