Former Tullahoma News Publisher and Lakeway Publishers Vice President Keith Ponder has passed away after a lingering illness.

Ponder joined the Tullahoma News in April 2021 and served as Publisher. He came to Tullahoma amidst a 29-year publishing career which included leading the Daily Herald in Columbia for five years. Prior to that time, he worked in Iowa, Texas, Arkansas and Kentucky, where he spent 20 years as a publisher at CNHI (Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.) and Stephens Media. Ponder was promoted to Senior VP of Lakeway Publishers in early 2023. During his time as Vice President, Ponder oversaw growth in a middle Tennessee division, adding three new papers to the mid-state fleet including The Bedford County Post, The Marshall County Post and The Marion Tribune in Marion County. All three were newspaper launches, built from the ground up. At the time of his departure from Tullahoma later in 2023 to take a new opportunity in Tupelo, Miss., the mid-state division had grown from six to nine papers.

“Keith oversaw growth in an industry where the launching of new papers is almost unheard of and he did it three times,” said Regional Editor Duane Sherrill, noting that Ponder was a great motivator and leader. “He led by example and was a great communicator when it came to his vision for the future of our company and our industry. He was always quick to remind us that ‘hope is not a strategy’ and to prepare for all eventualities.”

Along with leading the news company, Ponder was also believed in a free press which led him to get involved with the Tennessee Press Association and later the Mississippi Press Association as a vanguard for open government.

“Ponder has been a tenacious defender of the free press,” said Elk Valley Times General Manager Lora Scripps, who was part of the mid-state region that Ponder oversaw. “He has dedicated most of his life to the sometimes brutal trade. He did not only for his family, whom he adores, but for everyday people like you and me. He has stood with an unwavering commitment to truth with courage, commitment, integrity, tenacity, a tinge of skepticism and a whole lot of empathy.”

Others who worked with him found his motivational skills to be one-of-a-kind.

“Keith was the best leader and mentor I have ever worked with,” said Debbie Wimsatt, General Manager of the Tullahoma News. “His vision was always to lift people up and help them find their true potential. The world was a better place with him in it. He will truly be missed.”

“Keith Ponder was a true champion to the communities he served. He treated his employees with the utmost respect and in turn he got the best out of them,” said Joe Martin, Advertising Director of the Tullahoma News. “Many people in the media industry could learn a thing or two from Keith Ponder. Loyalty, compassion and the ability to inform the public of unbiased information were just some of the attributes he passed along to the people he touched in this life. He will be sorely missed by all that knew him.”

Lakeway Publishers President R. Michael Fishman when he thought of Ponder, he thought about his passion for the newspaper business and the knowledge he had for the industry.

“While we worked together, I valued his input and wisdom. It was a privilege to work with him,” said Fishman. “But he was more than a colleague. He was a wonderful person. I was honored to call him my friend.”

Tullahoma Noon Rotary President Jim Woodard called Ponder a great friend and said when Ponder came to Tullahoma he made a difference.

“I loved his passion for the paper and the communities they served,” Woodard said. “Not only was Keith a seasoned and talented publisher, but also a caring contributor to the towns he served.”

Woodard recalled discovering that Ponder was also a Rotarian and said he was anxious to become a member of the Tullahoma Noon Rotary Club.

“Keith lived out our Rotary Moto with every facet of his fast-paced work and life; ‘Service above self’,” Woodard said. “Keith loved bringing the news stories, good or not so good to our towns with truthfulness, facts, and excellence. He was a wonderful professional, educated individual and a passionate leader. God Bless Keith Ponder, his family and all of those he had such a positive influence on.” 

Arrangements were incomplete at press-time. See www.tullahomanews.com for updates on his celebration of life plans.