James W. (Jim) Rech, former managing editor and editor of the Victoria Advocate for more than three decades, died Monday, November 19, 2012. He was 83. He was born January 23, 1929, in Pickens, MS, grew up in Houston and was a graduate of Lamar High School.
Mr. Rech began his Advocate career in 1953 after serving with the U.S. Army in Alaska following graduation from the University of Texas in Austin, where he was a journalism major and sports editor of the Daily Texan student newspaper.
Following a brief stint as a reporter in Alice, Mr. Rech joined the Advocate in November 1953 as a news reporter and in 1959 was named managing editor, a post he held until his promotion to executive editor in 1973. In 1980 he was promoted to editor and vice president. He retired in 1990.
An award-winning news and editorial page writer and news page designer, Mr. Rech was an avid reader, book collector, history buff and sports fan.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Alice Sala Rech; daughter and son-in-law, Tami and Russell Wilson of Mandeville, LA; brother, Hugh Frank Rech of Richmond, TX; granddaughter, Sara Wilson of New Orleans; and grandson, Ryan Wilson of Dallas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Angie Rech.
Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. and a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 20, 2012, at Rosewood Funeral Chapels. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Dan Morales officiating. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Russell Wilson, Ryan Wilson, Tom Rech, Vince Reedy, Sam Patterson, and Matt Atzenhofer.
If one so desires, memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 402 S. Main Street, Victoria, Texas, 77901, or to St. Michael’s Catholic Church in care of the Rev. David Berger, 309 E. Church St., Cuero, Texas, 77954.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
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