Roger Cowles’ ties to the local community and to the Port Arthur News runs deep.

Cowles, longtime editor of the Port Arthur News, has seen 13 publishers and two major hurricanes as well as national and world events that affected locals to small town stories of community members and countless headlines.

On Thursday he was recognized for his 40 years at the newspaper, 24 years as a member of the Rotary Club of Port Arthur and for his work on the Salvation Army board during the Rotary’s lunchtime meeting at The Medical Center of Southeast Texas.

Rotarian Jeff Hayes gave some of Cowles’ background, from his church newspaper to Lamar University where he was editor of the University Press, to acting as copy boy, then copy desk person, city editor and more at The News.

“When Dub Brown retired as editor, Wes Plummer (then publisher) was smart enough to hire Roger as editor,” Hayes said.

Former reporter Sherry Sturdivant recalled interviewing for the position and of Cowles’ influence on his employees, which are like family.

“Years ago when I was going through a divorce and needed a change of pace I saw the job posting on the Internet. I drove down from a little town in East Texas and found my way downtown. I can still remember to this day siting across from him at this big conference table. I had only worked at one big daily paper before,” Sturdivant said. “I came to realize he loves community journalism. He’s a master of knowing what’s going on, whether it’s something at the national level making the news or Mrs. Brown’s turtle collection, he makes sure the community is represented in all aspects.”

Cowles, she said, taught many a reporter the ropes.

“He taught everybody so much. Me personally, I’m terrible at math but not a budget year goes by where I didn’t have to ask him to come over and explain percentages, he never once complained.”

Cowles also had an open door policy with his staff.

“His door is always open. He taught us so much on how to be a journalist, others and me in sports, reporters, and copy desk. We don’t knock on his door, we bust in,” she said.

Rotarian J.T. Beckman said one of the biggest stories Cowles covered in his career was Hurricane Rita.

When the hurricane hit in 2005 Cowles and family evacuated to Ivanhoe and hunkered down. After it passed he and son Ben worked to make to back to the Golden Triangle and the newspaper.

“When he made it home he bought a generator, hooked it up to his house with several computers and put out a newspaper from there,” Beckman said. “He did that, sent the materials to Huntsville to be printed and three days after the hurricane hit we had a newspaper. That shows a lot of dedication.”

Career highlights include a visit by then president George W. Bush as the nation’s leader toured the damage and interviewing former mayor Oscar Ortiz who was clad in scrubs because he had lost all his clothing to a house fire during the hurricane.

“He’s involved in many organizations,” Beckman said. “He’s involved in our club (Rotary) since 1992. Also the United Way, Salvation Army, Port Arthur Literacy, Port Neches-Groves Educational Foundation, Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce and a great promoter of the Holly Days Fund.”

Rotary President Janie Johnson presented Cowles with a plaque for his years at the newspaper and Rotary.

“It’s an honor to honor you today,” Johnson said.

Cowles, in accepting the honor, said he has the greatest job — communicating with the people in the community. He also tipped his hat to his staff, many of whom were in attendance.

“There’s a lot of talk about how newspapers are going away. Not with a community like ours,” Cowles said. “It’s the lifeblood, the nerve center of the community.”

Cowles also informed the crowd of a new magazine coming from The News in September called Greater Port Arthur the magazine. The publication brings interesting stories about eh area such as Setzer’s Hardware, Beau Reve and even a view inside Judge Jeff Branick’s home.

Cowles’ wife, Celines Del Valle was on hand to see him honored for his work.