Long-time staple at The Pampa News turns the page

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In her 40 years at The Pampa News, Beverly Taylor has been through more than a dozen editors and publishers and seen the daily paper transition to a semi-daily paper as most have throughout the digital age.

But one thing that hasn’t changed for Taylor: her often being the first person customers see when they walk through the doors of the newspaper.

Taylor joined The Pampa News on August 18, 1982 under the direction of the Louise Fletcher. After a brief stint at the Gray County Clerk’s Office, Taylor returned to The Pampa News in early 2013 under the direction of ReDonn Woods.

“After I had gotten a divorce, I had started at a savings/loan business, Security Federal, for a few months and from there I came here,” Taylor said. “I worked in classifieds and Pam Smith was the classified manager. When I came to work here, in just classifieds there were four people just in classifieds. Up front in circulation, there were two or three and the circulation manager. There were four sales girls and in editorial they had the editor, city editor, sports editor, lifestyle editor and a photographer.”

Through the years, it’s been the relationships and comradery Taylor has built with other staff members.

“I am going to miss the Christmases because it’s just like a family,” Taylor said. “We also had Chico (Ramirez, long-time employee since retired) running around. All of the customers were so friendly and always seemed like they were happy to see you. It’s a real nice environment.”

When Taylor came to work at the Pampa News, Helena McKnight was the bookkeeper and today McKnight’s daughter, Carrie Hair, is in that same role; personifying the family environment and longevity of the staff.

“You just watch their lives grow and change,” Taylor said. “Carrie was just a little girl. But then you watch their lives change, grow and have additions to their lives.”

Taylor, who lives in Howardwick, took a position in Clarendon and as she grows closer to retirement age will enjoy being closer to home. But she will be coming to Pampa on occasion.

“I’ll be retiring within the next two years,” Taylor said. “I just want to be closer to home but all of my kids live here. I’ll still be coming to Pampa.”

Taylor was married to Keith Taylor for 32 years before he passed, she has five children total, twins Jeremiah and Jason Downs, April Taylor Lee, Erica Smith and Kevin Winget, and 17 grandchildren.

The Pampa News greatly appreciates the contributions Beverly has made over the past 40 years. We wish her the best and look forward to seeing her in the community in the future.

“I grew up here and I grew up at The Pampa News,” Taylor said. “I’ll miss it.”