Ray Cooney
Ray Cooney was elected president of The Graphic Printing Company in December 2023. He became publisher of The Commercial Review on July 1, 2020, while retaining the title of editor he has held since Dec. 1, 2014. He served managing editor from July 2013 through November 2014, assistant managing editor from November 2005 through July 2013 and sports editor from March 2001 through July 2013.
He earned the most awards of any journalist in Division III in the Hoosier State Press Association Better Newspaper Contest for four consecutive years from 2013 through 2016. His first-place honors this year were for in-depth feature, sports feature, general news photo and video.
In his career he has also won HSPA awards for sports commentary, editorial writing, use of graphics, community service, news writing under deadline pressure, sports action photo, sports feature photo, headline writing, editorial page, profile feature and multiple picture group. He had picked up nine Indiana Associated Press Media Editors awards earlier in the year, including first place for business writing, non-deadline sports story and headline writing.
Cooney was honored with the Indiana High School Athletic Association Distinguished Media Service Award in 2012, and also received the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Outstanding Baseball Media Award in 2009.
A native of Avon, Ohio, Cooney graduated from St. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio) in 1996 and Cleveland State University in 2000. He was the inaugural editor of The Cleveland Stater at CSU, and also worked for The Morning Journal (Lorain, Ohio) and The Chronicle-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) before moving to Jay County.
Cooney lives in Portland with his dog, Scooter.
JAY COUNTY
Four earn state trip
A year ago, Mary Hudson had to sit and wait, hoping her school-record time would be good enough to earn her one of the provisional spots in the state finals.
SPORTS
Big day for Jay, SA
In a tournament that included a 20-time defending champion, the Patriots and Starfires would have been hard pressed to ask for a better result.
SPORTS
Archers shoot down JC
MARION — For a half, the Patriots played well enough to put a scare into the sectional favorites. But the Archers' near-perfect aim from long distance to start the second half shot down any hope of a Jay County upset.
SPORTS
JC blasts Panthers
Brock McFarland and Kegan Comer were varsity players as freshmen, and have been cemented as starters this season. Friday night the skills that earned them those distinctions were on full display.
JAY COUNTY
Teagle's 250th
MUNCIE — In 13 seasons at Jay County High School, coach Craig Teagle has had his share of success.
SOUTH ADAMS
State swimmers
The Patriots competing in the state finals are coming into the meet from four thoroughly different angles.
SPORTS
HN tops Jay
The Patriots fell Tuesday to their main sectional rival. But, competing without their all-around leader, they proved the still belong among the tournament’s best.
FORT RECOVERY
Gelhaus powers FR
FORT RECOVERY — With the tournament just around the corner, the Indians are back on track.
SPORTS
A senior moment
FORT RECOVERY — The teams from Delphos have been part of the Indians’ two most exciting finishes of the season.
SPORTS
Patriots top Yorktown
Rebounding is one of the tenets of the Jay County boys basketball program.
FORT RECOVERY
Big finish
FORT RECOVERY — Two weeks ago, the Indians were languishing. In the midst of a seven-game losing streak, they had not won in more than a month. Now, they’re once again going strong with the tournament just a few days away.
SPORTS
Fort stops Rams
KALIDA, Ohio — It was a bit of a bumpy ride for the Indians, especially in the first half. But they were still able to break the Rams.
JAY COUNTY
Spartans stopped
HUNTINGTON — Brock McFarland stood near the half-court line as the final 20 seconds disappeared, the ball tucked securely under his right arm. Before the buzzer sounded, sophomore Kegan Comer wrapped his arms around his classmate.
SPORTS
Fort heads to district
A 42-point win brought the Indians their third straight sectional championship with relative ease.
FORT RECOVERY
Fort rolls over W-G
COLDWATER, Ohio — The Indians’ first victory over Waynesfield-Goshen this season gave coach Brian Patch his 100th win. Their second earned them a chance to play for their fourth straight sectional title.
SPORTS
Falcons top JCHS
WINCHESTER — It takes any visiting team’s best effort to come away with a win at the Winchester Fieldhouse. The Patriots did not have theirs Friday night.
FORT RECOVERY
Fort cruises
FORT RECOVERY — Once the Indians got rolling, there was no stopping them.
SPORTS
State strong
When Drake Meska first stepped on a wrestling mat, he did so partly because he had yet to find his niche in athletics.
SOUTH ADAMS
Meska, Garringer head to semi-state
Until last season, Drake Meska had never been past the sectional round of the tournament.
SPORTS
Jay County will play two
“It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame … Let’s play two.”
SPORTS
Patriots take pair
Momentum is a major factor in basketball, and as the Patriots head to the tournament they have plenty on their side.
SOUTH ADAMS
JC's Meska wins title
FORT WAYNE — Drake Meska fell to his back, raising both arms toward the ceiling, fists clenched in triumph.
SPORTS
Patriots advance to regional
MUNCIE — Competing without their top scorer, and with one of their seniors limited because of injury, the Patriots still proved to be one of the best teams in the area.
JAY COUNTY
Jay captures sectional
HUNTINGTON — When Garrett Krieg got the ball across the time line, he was serious — all business.
FORT RECOVERY
Great first carries Fort
ADA, Ohio — A great start can be just as effective as a finish.
SPORTS
A shot at state
When Katie Snyder fell from the high bar at the Connersville Invitational and suffered a broken arm that brought an end to her season, it seemed that the Patriots’ chances of advancing a gymnast to the state finals ended as well.
SPORTS
Sisters stand together
Family ties run deep within the Fort Recovery High School girls basketball team.
JAY COUNTY
Year ends at regional
HUNTINGTON — Hopes of the Patriots sending a gymnast to the state finals for the sixth time since 2003 came to an end Friday night.
FORT RECOVERY
Fort Recovery eyes regional crown
Fort Recovery has played like a state contender all season long.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Unsung heroes are key
In order to make the state finals, a team needs to have great players and must be well coached.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Believe in yourselves
This week’s newspaper coverage of the Fort Recovery High School girls basketball team’s road to the state finals has included letters from athletics director Barb Sautbine, former coach Diane McClung and Kelli Bihn, the wife of Indians’ coach Doug Bihn. Today, it’s my turn.
JAY COUNTY
Tourney thriller
HUNTINGTON — It was the opening round of the sectional, but it felt like so much more.
FORT RECOVERY
Celina shuts down Indians
FORT RECOVERY — The season opener was perfect, just not for the Indians.
FORT RECOVERY
Tribe welcomed home
FORT RECOVERY — The message was clear: We could not be more proud.
SPORTS
Fort Recovery falls
COLUMBUS, Ohio — As she was leading the Indians off the floor, senior Abby Huelskamp turned around and gathered her teammates. Although their season ended in defeat Friday afternoon, they deserved one more moment on the basketball court.
JAY COUNTY
Starfires top Jay County
The Patriots edged South Adams in victories 8-7 on Thursday. But the Starfires came out on top.
SPORTS
FRHS blasts Patriots
FORT RECOVERY — The Indians were thrilled to be playing on their home field for the first time this season. For the Patriots, the trip to Ohio to play their season opener was not so enjoyable.
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