Editor Williams to retire

Barbara S. Williams

The Post and Courier

Charles Rowe

The Post and Courier turns a new page this week as Editor Barbara S. Williams retires after 44 years with the newspaper and Charles R. Rowe assumes her duties as editorial page editor.

Williams will continue to serve as a weekly columnist and consultant. Her retirement marks a milestone in a groundbreaking career that included being the first woman assigned to cover the South Carolina Legislature and to serve as editor of a daily newspaper in the state.

Ivan V. "Andy" Anderson, president and chief executive officer of Evening Post Publishing Co., said that during Williams' 44 years in Charleston, "Barbara has done just about every newsroom job there is, from reporter to top editor. Her impact on our newspaper and our community has been extraordinary."

Post and Courier Publisher Larry Tarleton said, "Barbara's well-earned retirement leaves a tremendous void. She knows more about the inner workings of government and politics than anyone around. We will continue to call on her vast knowledge for guidance on issues."

Williams joined the newspaper's staff in 1961 and soon became The News and Courier's legislative reporter. She also covered city and county governments.

Williams became that newspaper's assistant managing editor in 1976, and in 1981 became editor of The Evening Post. That promotion made her the first female editor in modern times of a major daily newspaper in South Carolina.

She succeeded Arthur Wilcox in 1990 as editor of The News and Courier while retaining her position as editor of The Evening Post, and she presided over the merger of the two newspapers in October 1991 to form The Post and Courier

A year later, she served as president of the National Conference of Editorial Writers, which includes newspapers in the United States and Canada.

Rowe, currently the newspaper's assistant editor, has worked for The Evening Post, The News and Courier and The Post and Courier for almost a quarter century either as a city hall reporter, news desk editor, Washington correspondent or editorial writer. He also wrote "Pages of History, 200 Years of The Post and Courier" and compiled and edited a book of Frank B. Gilbreth's popular columns, "Ashley Cooper's Doing the Charleston."

Rowe will assume his new role Tuesday and he vowed to continue to provide fair-minded opinion on the editorial pages and to maintain an emphasis on growth management, land conservation and governmental accountability.

A native of Elizabeth City, N.C., and a graduate of Appalachian State University, Rowe is married to Marie Thrower and has two sons, Miles and Graham.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.