Penney, who is 62, said he had been looking forward to retiring for the past couple of years.
“I appreciate everyone who has supported me in this position over the past 14 years. It has been an honor and an enjoyable challenge to serve the community,” he said.
Penney, who has also served as publisher of the paper since 1999, will continue working part-time with News Publishing Co., the parent company of the Standard and the Rome News-Tribune. Penney said he expects to be working mostly at the News-Tribune on special editions.
“This will give me an opportunity to stay focused on work that I enjoy, and also allow me some time to spend with my two children and granddaughter, who all live in Birmingham, Ala.,” he explained.
Otis Raybon, vice president of News Publishing Co. said, “Cedartown is fortunate to have had Jim Penney as editor and publisher of the Standard for the past 14 years.
He has been a very loyal and dedicated supporter and booster of Cedartown and the entire Polk County community.
Jim is an excellent editor and understands how important a community newspaper is to the positive growth and quality of life of its community. We will miss Jim at Cedartown, but we are very happy he will be now able to spend the time he wants with his children and grandchildren.”
Lowell Vickers, News Publishing Company Editor and Publisher will work with Aimee Harmison, assistant editor, as she and the staff of the Standard continue to produce the same quality community newspaper that readers and advertisers expect each Tuesday and Thursday.
Prior to working at the Standard, Penney was a copy editor at the Rome News-Tribune and had worked with the Rome City Schools in its publication office.
He also gained newspaper experience in Dalton and LaFayette.
“Cedartown has experienced a lot of positive changes in the past several years and I believe the Standard has had some part in those changes. We have focused our efforts on helping those in the community who are trying to bring in economic growth, better education and a better quality of life for everyone,” he said.
Penney said there are many highlights of the past 14 years, but winning First Place in the Georgia Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for its local coverage of Sept. 011, 2001 had to be one of the most memorable. The Standard was one of only six newspapers in the state to win a first place honor in the Terrorist Attack Coverage category.
Penney is a graduate of Shorter College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science in 1971. He is also a graduate of West Rome High School.
“Cedartown feels just as much home to me as Rome, where I was born and raised,” he said.
Penney has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Cedartown, serving as its president in 1999-2000. He also served as program chairman and first vice president.
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