Suzanne Bardwell

Aug. 19, 1955 - Jan. 7, 2022
Gladewater Mirror
White Oak Independent
Lindale News & Times

Hall of Fame Class of 2023

When Suzanne Bardwell passed away suddenly on Jan. 7, 2022, the breadth and depth of her contribution to community journalism was instantly brought into sharp focus.

Bardwell, known as “Bard” by her many high school students, worked at Gilmer, Spring Hill and White Oak ISDs. At White Oak, she served as a journalism teacher as well as the adviser for the yearbook and newspaper staff. In 2013, she was named the Max R. Haddick Teacher of the Year by the University Interscholastic League. The award is presented annually to the best high school journalism instructor in Texas.

After 33 years in the classroom — all the while supporting community journalism through the scholarship committee of the North and East Texas Press Association and being the backstop, supporter and cheerleader for her husband, Jim — she “retired.” It was more like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. The Bardwells purchased the Gladewater Mirror in 2012, along with the Big Sandy-Hawkins Journal. They eventually sold the Journal, then in 2018 took over operation of the nearby White Oak Independent – in the same community where Suzanne had spent the last 18 years of her teaching career – and the Lindale News and Times. Suzanne was a multiple award winner in the Texas Press Association for her columns and was honored for her photography, news writing and community service projects.

She supported a number of causes, most notably saving the Gladewater Library from closing after the 2021 Texas winter storm severely damaged the facility. She was a fierce advocate for the First Amendment, writing about it frequently and contacting lawmakers about issues that threatened those rights.

Tommy Thomason, founder and former director of Texas Center of Community Journalism, retired professor from Texas Christian University and TNF Hall of Fame inductee, shared this:

“The real mark of greatness in a life is not people who build great cathedrals or design great art or discover unknown truths. All that stuff, as wonderful as it is, will someday pass away. The mark of greatness is people who pour their lives into other people. And that is what Suzanne did. There are thousands of people whose lives are forever different because they encountered Suzanne.”

Suzanne Bardwell is survived by her husband, Jim, son Josh and daughter-in-law Jennifer Bardwell.