In 1979, John Bowers began a steady ascent at the Aransas Pass Progress/ Ingleside Index from sales and advertising manager all the way up to associate publisher and publisher before retiring in August 2023. But as South Texas News expands its reach in the rest of San Patricio County, he’s back in a new role.
Bowers is back with the Progress and is working in advertising for the Progress, a role that he is excited to embark on. “There’s a lot of good things that are going to happen, and I’m looking forward to helping bring some life back into these (special sections),” Bowers said. “There’s no negative thought there…. I’m excited about coming back.”
Bowers has been around Ingleside for more than four decades, and said his wife is from the area. So he has always loved the Aransas Pass/Ingleside area, he said. And he has a passion for bringing the news of small towns to its members.
“I just think that, community- wide, people love to see stories about their community,” he said.
And Bowers has a good feeling about what he can do to help South Texas News expand its reach in the area - in addition to giving the businesses and companies in those areas the exposure they deserve for the services they provide.
“I’ve just always had a big love for Aransas Pass and Ingleside,” he said.
“…. I’ve always liked the small town papers, and I see the need for a small town paper - there’s a lot that happens in these towns that the bigger papers won’t touch.”
The strength of South Texas News is one he believes can only help the Progress and Index, as its reach now extends to all of San Patricio County to help be_er tell the stories of the people in the Aransas Pass and Ingleside communities. After all, he said, that’s the goal and aim of a community newspaper.
“They have their own paper - it’s not part of a paper, it’s their own paper,” he said. “You can buy that paper each week, and while what’s on the front page might not be the moist current thing, they will start and tell the biggest part of the story - good, bad, or otherwise.”
Bowers worked with the Progress for decades before retiring last August. But as soon as the Progress and Index sold, he said it wasn’t long before he heard from the paper’s ownership about returning due to his passion for and knowledge of the area, its businesses, and its communities.
And he is only too happy to be back to help grow the Progress and Index into something even more than the good products they have been.
“I want to see the paper be successful. I don’t want to die at the paper, but I want to see it be successful,” he said with a laugh. “…This (paper) is going to be a weapon that (these businesses) are going to have to take a look at, because it’s a lot more than what the old Progress/Index would be. You’re going to get a lot more for your dollar with this.”
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