Van's picture

Van A. Tyson

Retired Professor of Journalism
Arkansas Tech University

Editor and Co-publisher
The Atkins Chronicle & The Dover Times

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He retired from full-time teaching in May, 2006. He had been at Arkansas Tech University since 1973, beginning as an associate professor and rising to professor of journalism. He has a B.A. in English and journalism from Tech, M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of Arkansas and additional graduate work in journalism from the University of Iowa at Iowa City.
Van, 22, Chronicle editor	is a third-generation newspaperman having started his career as a printer's devil (apprentice printer) at 11 years old. Since then he has been a reporter for the Des Moines (Iowa) Tribune, a reporter, editorial writer and columnist for the Arkansas Democrat and, for the second time, editor and publisher of The Atkins Chronicle, a weekly. He writes a weekly column called The Gum Log.
	is in a jazz band called Jazz Reunion, playing the trombone and harmonica. The amateur group plays dixieland, swing and standard ballads for a variety of events, including public fund-raising festivals, wedding receptions, political rallies and dances. He also plays the trombone on his front porch during thunderstorms. He claims to be chief inspector and trombone soloist for thunderstorms in Economy, Arkansas.
	has a granddaughter, born Sept. 12, 1996, he adores and will do anything she asks, for hours and hours. She is especially fond of Totally Spies and HiHi Puffy Ami Yumi TV shows. She loves to read and is fond of many thing, like writing and learning. She loves dancing, including jazz, tap and ballet. He has a new granddaughter. See her picture below.
	Here is Abigail Marie Molitor, born April 18, 2000, whom he also adores and loves to hold for hours. He gets especially excited when she smiles at him and makes noises. He enjoys watching her make progress in communication and can tell already that she is going to be very good at it. She loves to be held by him. Her parents are Emory and Jason Molitor.
	A third grandchild, Olivia Helen Molitor, born July 16, 2003, Abigail's sister. She celebrated her first birthday by eating her cake as she wanted to. She also loves to be held by her PawPaw and pull pens out of his shirt pocket, showing her inclination toward journalism. She also likes to pull his hair while riding on his shoulders.
	Now there are three. Van, wife, Ginnie, grandchildren Moira Murdoch and Abigail and Olivia Molitor at Thanksgiving 2006 on the steps of Gail and Mark Murdoch.