MONROE — Longtime journalist Gary Mays has joined the Monroe Times as news reporter. The move comes 10 years after Mays initially worked at the paper as News Editor.

Mays, 54, is a native of Rockford, and over his newspaper career has worked at papers throughout Illinois and Wisconsin, including the Chicago Tribune, Wisconsin State Journal, Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph, Peoria Journal Star, The Freeport Journal-Standard, and other publications.

“Being able to bring in a seasoned journalist with the experience and skill-set like Gary has is a blessing for our newsroom,” Times Editor Adam Krebs said. “I’ve known Gary for nearly 15 years and his work speaks for itself.”

Mays is a 1990 graduate in political science from Illinois State University, and also has worked in high-tech public relations for the former MCI, Plano, Tex.-based Electronic Data Systems and Madison-based Berbee Information Networks Corp.

His free-lance writing projects have included a number of academic text book contributions.

Mays has won numerous awards for his work, including those from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Associated Press and Illinois Newspaper Association.

“It’s great to come back to Monroe, a great place that deserves a good newspaper of record,” Mays said. 

Gary can be reached at gmays@themonroetimes.com or calling the Times office at 608-328-4202 ext. 13.