“The Oklahoman – its new owner, Gatehouse Media”Kelly Dyer Fry was named publisher of The Oklahoman in Dec. 2018. Fry will also continue in her role as editor and vice president of news for The Oklahoman, which was purchased by GateHouse Media in October.
For the past 24 years, Fry has been a leader in the news operation and coverage of Oklahoma communities. Fry led the team that launched NewsOK.com and served as general manager of The Oklahoman’s digital initiatives.
A third-generation journalist and graduate of Oklahoma State University, Fry has been with The Oklahoman since 1994 when she left her family business. Her family still owns and operates the El Reno Tribune.
“We are proud to have such talent in our company with the level of passion for journalism and connection to Oklahoma communities,” said Bernie Szachara, president of GateHouse U.S. Newspaper Operations.
“I have loved every minute of my career here and I’m looking forward to partnering with the community to build up this newspaper,” Fry said. “We are more than a product; we work hard every day to serve as your eyes and ears. I am humbled to take the reins of this great institution.”
Nationally, Fry has served on the board of the Associated Press Media Editors and the New Media Federation of the Newspaper Association of America.
Fry was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 2014.
Mary Mélon President/CEO, The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools
Mary Mélon joined The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools as president/CEO in September 2014. The Foundation’s mission is to advance excellence, create champions and build strong community support for lasting change in the Oklahoma City Public Schools. Mélon believes in the future of Oklahoma City and strives to utilize her network and skills to align the Foundation with the OKC Public School District and the community to provide hope for every student, as well as a rich educational experience.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Mélon had a nearly 20 -year career at The Journal Record Publishing Co. Her position as president and publisher included oversight of the Oklahoma team, as well as corporate responsibilities on the senior management corporate cabinet and group publisher of five additional markets.
Her professional honors include the Association for Women in Communications “Byliner” award for Communications, the Quality Oklahoman award from the Oklahoma Quality Foundation the “Embrace Award” by the YWCA, for embracing YWCA’s mission of empowering women and eliminating racism, the “Door Opener’ Award by ASTEC Charter Schools. She was also inducted in the OCU Meinder’s School of Business Hall of Honor, the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fam and the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, a program of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women.
Mélon has a daughter, Madison, who graduated from Georgetown Law and is a Public Defender in Oklahoma City.