Amarillo, Lubbock newspaper publishers to resign

The publishers of the Amarillo Globe-News and the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal have both announced that they will resign, effective Friday.

Globe-News publisher Les Simpson and Avalanche-Journal publisher Brandon Hughes announced their resignations to their staffs Tuesday. Both newspapers were among the 11 daily newspapers Georgia-based Morris Communications sold recently to Pittsford, New York-based GateHouse Media.

Matt Guthrie, GateHouse Media regional vice president, said both will be replaced by a senior group publisher who will manage both newspapers.

Simpson had been publisher at the Globe-News for 15 years, having served previously as assistant general manager of The Augusta Chronicle in Georgia, the Morris chain flagship. Hughes resigns after two years with the Avalanche-Journal after a 26-year career with the A-J and other Morris newspapers.