Andy Yemma was Editor of The Daily Texan in 1970-71, in the middle of a period of contentious relations with the Board of Regents in general and its chairman, Frank Erwin, in particular.

A key issue during that period was a major investigative story in The Texan in 1971.

The story revealed that work on Bauer House, the chancellor’s official residence and therefore state property, was afflicted by huge cost overruns, and that contracts were awarded without public bidding, as state law required.

The Texan’s investigation led to a State Senate inquiry that embarrassed the Regents and UT System Administration.

It so happened that the charter of Texas Student Publications (TSP), which published the Texan independently of the university, was expiring after 50 years. Erwin tried to leverage that into a full takeover of The Daily Texan. He ultimately failed.

Andy began his career in journalism before he even started college, working as a sportswriter at the Austin American-Statesman. He helped cover Longhorns’ national championship seasons in 1969 and 70.

He held many reporting-editing-and managing positions for 12 years at United Press International wire service.  While at UPI, he served as Midwest Division Editor, managing 100 reporters and editors across nine states.

He also was Business Editor of the Chicago Sun-Times, then the 8th largest newspaper in the country.

He earned an MBA at the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Journalism at UT.

After his journalism career, he worked in corporate communications with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. He finished his corporate career as a partner in a financial public relations firm in New York.

Andy has been married for 44 years to Eileen Ogintz, a nationally syndicated travel columnist and former national reporter at the Chicago Tribune. They have three children who have traveled the world with them (and without them) for the past four decades.

After 15 years in journalism, 10 years in corporate communications and 16 years in agency public relations, Andy is now semi-retired but still engages in writing and public relations.

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