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.
SPORTS
JC sweeps past Archers
For stretches, the Patriots looked great. And then there were times when they struggled.
JAY COUNTY
Falcons defeat Jay
In their first home match, the Patriots did not play up to their capabilities. On Tuesday, they made sure that didn’t happen again.
SPORTS
PATRIOT POWER
HARTFORD CITY — Zach Metcalf averaged better than 9 yards per carry. And he was the Patriots’ No. 3 rusher.
SPORTS
Devils defeat JC
The Patriots played their first home match of the season Thursday. But it was the visiting Red Devils who seemed more comfortable.
FORT RECOVERY
Strong at Celina
CELINA, Ohio — The Patriots and Indians enjoyed their day at the lake.
SPORTS
Anna tops Tribe
FORT RECOVERY — Kylie Huelsman wants her team to battle every opponent, and do the little things that make the difference between winning and losing close matches.
JAY COUNTY
Fresh legs
As the race begins, Abigail Johnson runs out to lead the Patriots. Megan Wellman and Emi Minnich flank her, running just a shade behind their most experienced teammate. They run there like it’s where they belong, and as if that should come as no surprise.
SPORTS
Trojans thrash JC
The second home game of the season for the Patriots stood in stark contrast to the first.
SPORTS
Patriots go 1-2
The young Patriots aren’t quite where they would like to be. But they’re making strides.
NEWS
Renovation on track at FRHS
FORT RECOVERY — If everything continues to go as planned, distractions during the school year from a $3.4-million renovation project at Fort Recovery High School will be kept at a minimum.
SPORTS
Niece keeping sports in play
Taking a week’s vacation from being sports editor has hardly meant a break from sports.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Success factor is good 1st step
CR Sports Editor Ray Cooney answers questions about Pete Rose, touchdown passes from rookie quarterbacks and the private vs. public issue in high school sports.
NEWS
Sunken oasis in Huntington
HUNTINGTON — On the north side of Park Street, there is a giant hole in the earth.
JAY COUNTY
Back finishes 19th
BLOOMINGTON — Tyler Back wasn’t able to reach the distances he was hoping for. He still shot up the leader board.
SPORTS
Offensive victory
It looked as if the Portland Rockets were going to send their fans home early. But each time they built a big lead, they could not hold it.
NEWS
Henryville help
Since tornadoes ripped through Clark County on March 2, there has been an outpouring of support to the southern-Indiana community. A group of Jay County High School students is part of the effort.
SPORTS
FR seeks to avenge loss
It’s said that history repeats itself. The Indians hope theory holds true.
FORT RECOVERY
Headed to finals
ELIDA, Ohio — Wade Gelhaus spent the first half in the background as his senior teammates controlled the game. But when Indians needed him in the third quarter, the Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year rose to the occasion.
SPORTS
Gelhaus is best in MAC
FORT RECOVERY — After a year off, the Indians once again have the best player in the MAC.
FORT RECOVERY
Valley girls rally
ST. MARYS, Ohio — The Indians seemed less sad than shocked. It was hard to fathom how a 17-point lead could slip away.
SPORTS
Wayne knocks JC from tourney
HUNTINGTON — Jay County’s program is built around playing good team defense and taking care of the basketball. Neither of those aspects were in effect on Friday night.
SPORTS
USV up next for Fort
FORT RECOVERY — On Saturday and again at practice Monday, the Indians had a simple answer for why they were able to put a bad start behind them and came back to throttle a team they had lost to during the regular season. They believed.
SPORTS
Different states, same objective
Jay County and Fort Recovery are focused on winning sectional championships.
SPORTS
JC baseball target should be .500
After taking last month off, I’m returning to the question-and-answer format for my final column of February. This month there are questions about Jay County High School baseball and boys track, a perception of bias in my NFL top 10 and NBA scoring records.
SPORTS
Tourney vengeance
COLDWATER, Ohio — Chelsea Pottkotter took an outlet pass deep in the left corner.
JAY COUNTY
Technical fall
OSSIAN — Facing one of the best teams on their schedule, the Patriots were not at their best.
SPORTS
Batt finishes as state runner-up
INDIANAPOLIS — In 40 years, South Adams had just two wrestlers place in the top four at the state finals. Todd Batt and Sawyer Miller matched that in a single day.
SPORTS
Jay Co. breaks 100
Shelby Pryor saved her best for last. Her teammates were right their with her.
JAY COUNTY
Hemmelgarn third for Jay
INDIANAPOLIS — It seemed only fitting that Eric Hemmelgarn’s reaction after his final match was another jump into the arms of assistant coach Andy Pfeifer. His career had made quite a leap.
JAY COUNTY
Sorry dad
UNION CITY — Honor thy father. That is, unless you’re on a basketball court.
JAY COUNTY
Keen places second
A record-breaking performance still left James Keen short of the state finals.
SCHOOLS
Ford set to retire
Less than 12 hours after saying he wouldn’t confirm reports of his impending retirement, Phil Ford decided to make it official.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Next phase set to begin
Paving work is nearing completion on some streets as crews prepare to start sewer work on others.
JAY COUNTY
Patriots miss chance in loss
After an unearned run broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning, coach Lea Selvey gathered his players.
SPORTS
Make the most of opportunities
Always be ready.That’s a lesson to be learned from Monday’s 2-1 win by the United States over Ghana in its opening game of the World Cup.
NEWS
Santa brings smiles at walk
There was a survivor’s dinner, games for children, a balloon launch and the lighting of luminaries. And Santa.
NEWS
Rate rises to 5.1 percent
Jay County posted its lowest unemployment rate in six years in March, and then surpassed that mark again in April. The number went up in May, but remained at less than 5.5 percent for the third straight month.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Myers not a typical coach
James Myers was not the stereotypical wrestling coach. And that’s a good thing.
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