David Thompson, head of Kentucky Press Association, retires after 42 years
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- David T. Thompson retires after 42 years as KPA executive director. .
- He led lobbying, training and legal support for statewide Kentucky newspapers.
- KPA starts search for successor; members highlight his advocacy and mentorship.
David T. Thompson is retiring as executive director of the Kentucky Press Association, the nonprofit organization that represents the state’s newspapers in lobbying, training and legal services, the group has announced.
Thompson, who has held the post since 1983, is the longest-serving executive director of a state newspaper association in North America, the KPA said in a news release Thursday.
“David Thompson has served KPA and Kentucky journalism with a level of dedication few in our industry will ever match,” said KPA President Dennis Brown, publisher of the Lewis County Herald.
“For 42 years, he has been the steady hand guiding our association with integrity, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to open government and a free press. David has been a mentor to me and to countless journalists across the commonwealth. His leadership, advocacy, and institutional knowledge are irreplaceable,” Brown said.
The KPA has started an immediate search for Thompson’s successor, Brown said.
Thompson graduated from the University of Kentucky School of Journalism in 1974. He worked at the Lexington Herald as a sports writer and later as publisher and editor of the Georgetown News and Times before joining the KPA.
Thompson was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in 2006 and in 2019 won the Al Smith Award for Public Service through Community Journalism.
This story was originally published December 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
