Last week I was reminded of the legacy the nonprofit organization that now publishes The Hardwick Gazette inherited when I made the trip to Portsmouth, N.H., for the 2026 New England Newspaper Convention.
Former Gazette editor and publisher, Ross Connelly, and former sportswriter, David A. “Dave” Morse, are both members of the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame 2026. Their names appeared in the program at the induction ceremony for this year’s recipients of the honor. Connelly was inducted in 2012 and Morse, who died in 2014, probably the next year, according to Connelly.
Connelly’s name also appeared as a member of The Yankee Quill Selection Committee in the program for the Academy of New England Journalists honoring extraordinary contributions and achievements by members of the New England press in the past year.
Connelly and Morse were consummate professionals. I and others on the staff here have big shoes to fill.
Paul Fixx, editor
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.

