Publisher Frank Wood to retire, capping 40-year career

Frank Wood

Frank D. Wood, publisher of the Times West Virginian (Fairmont) and The Register-Herald in Beckley, is retiring after more than 40 years in the newspaper industry.  

Wood said he plans to step down Aug. 5.  Misty Poe was named general manager and editor of the Times West Virginian in 2015, and she will continue in that role.  In Beckley, he will be succeeded by Randy Mooney, publisher of the neighboring Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Mooney, a native of St. Albans, W.Va., will continue in his role as publisher of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.

"It has been a wonderful journey," said Wood, a native of the Beckley area. "I've witnessed many amazing changes over the years and worked with talented people performing critical functions in all departments."

Wood began his career in 1969 on the advertising staff of the morning Beckley Post Herald and the afternoon Raleigh Register. The papers merged into the morning The Register-Herald in 1977, resulting in Wood moving into management positions in other departments.

Wood left Beckley in 1988 to become publisher of The Daily Advance in Elizabeth City, N.C., but returned to West Virginia in 1990 to serve for nine years as publisher of the Times West Virginian.

He returned to Beckley as publisher of The Register-Herald and its companion papers in 1999 and in 2015, he took on the additional role as publisher of the Times West Virginian.

"As the Times West Virginian celebrates 150 years of dedicated service to the community, the print newspaper products, and in more recent years, its web-based content, remain the dominant and credible source for local content and information in Fairmont and Marion County," said Wood. "The Sesquicentennial is significant in many ways, but it also represents wisdom that will continue to guide the experienced multimedia staff as they provide news and advertising content to a larger-than-ever audience base."

The veteran publisher said when he started in the newspaper industry, hot metal typesetting on Linotype machines produced content, giving way eventually to phototypesetting and then modern-day computerized page production.  

Wood is a three-time president of the West Virginia Press Association. He received the Adam R. Kelly Premier Journalist award in 2012, the highest individual honor bestowed by the organization. He and his wife, JoAnn, plan to remain as residents of Daniels, spend more time with family and stay active in the community.

"Frank's work ethic and commitment to his newspapers, his staff and his community will be sorely missed," said McPhaul.  "We all wish Frank the very best in retirement."

Misty Poe
Poe joined the Times West Virginian 15 years ago as a reporter upon graduation from Fairmont State University. She was appointed city editor in 2006 and managing editor in 2009. She has received several journalism awards from the West Virginia Press Association over the years.

"We are fortunate to have Misty Poe as general manager and editor," McPhaul continues. "Misty is a talented newspaper executive and we are confident that she will continue to do an exceptional job in Fairmont."

Randy Mooney
McPhaul said the appointment of Mooney as the next publisher in Beckley is designed to keep the momentum going that Wood built during his tenure. “Randy Mooney has the leadership skills and the experience to continue the forward motion,” said McPhaul. 

Mooney is a 37-year newspaper veteran and a longtime acquaintance of Wood. He was a publisher of newspapers in Kentucky and Oklahoma before returning to West Virginia three years ago to become publisher of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.

“I am thrilled to be part of the staff at The Register-Herald,” said Mooney. “I have known Frank Wood for more than 30 years and am honored to follow in his footsteps.

Mooney is a graduate of West Virginia University in Morgantown. He and his wife, Amy, have three grown children and two grandchildren.