Hawes Racking Up Kudos

By Hooterville Newswire Services
CLUTE (Tx) -- A petition campaign to honor Kelly Hawes, the Clute-based newspaper executive, has been launched to honor his recent campaign to promote higher ethical standards in the news media industry.
Velma Oleander, recording secretary of the River's End chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution Concerned About the First Amendment, said she hopes to gather enough signatures to convince Gov. Rick Perry to name the new highway overpass being constructed in Lake Jackson after the newsman.
When completed, the overpass over Farm-to-Market Road 2004 apparently will be the second highest man-made structure in Lake Jackson, the commercial hub of Southern Brazoria County.
Naming the civic improvement after Hawes is appropriate because of his recent championing of media decorum, Crane said.
"He stands for seriousness and decency," she said, moments before being escorted out of the food court at Brazos Mall, where she was soliciting signatures.
Hawes, a popular figure since he began penning newspaper columns on fatherhood, also has been nominated for this year's "Charles Colson Newsmaker of the Year" award given annually by Daddy Mag, a quarterly publication that examines the lighter side of parenthood.
Awarding of the coveted plaque will be announced at the National Rodeo Finals.
J. Patrick Buchanan received last year's award.
Announcement of the newsmaker award historically has led to lucrative product endorsements.
Dippity Do For Men Inc. LLP, the maker of men's hair care products, is a sponsor of this year's Daddy Mag awards ceremony.
Hawes was unavailable for comment this afternoon, according to a spokesman who said he "already knocked off for the day."