The Sealy News will have to find a new managing editor after current Managing Editor Cole McNanna submitted his resignation in March.

McNanna leaves some big shoes to fill after he established a hard-working reputation that led to being well-liked by his peers and fellow citizens throughout his nearly four years in the role.

At the March 30 regular meeting of the Sealy ISD Board of Trustees, McNanna was recognized with an excellence in journalism award for his years of service covering the town.

McNanna, a Massachusetts native, began his Sealy News tenure in July of 2018. His first task was getting acclimated to a new state on the other side of the country. With close to zero friends or family living in Texas prior to his move, this could have proven to be a daunting task.

However, McNanna quickly found camaraderie with his fellow coworkers and acceptance from the community he now had the responsibility of covering.

“It was definitely an adjustment coming down here from Massachusetts,” McNanna said about his initial move to Texas, “Pretty big culture shift, but the southern hospitality is real down here for sure.”

In the interview process for his original Sports and Education Editor position, McNanna had initially promised two years of his best work before moving on to chase his dreams of covering professional sports in Boston. Not before long, the Sealy citizens created a place where McNanna could feel at home away from home which made his stay in Texas enjoyable even as it continued past his original plans.

The relationship between McNanna and the Sealy community was never more apparent than when Sealy Head Cross Country Coach Anthony Branch entered his name for the Texas Girls’ Coaches Association sportswriter of the year award in 2019. McNanna went on to earn the honor for his commitment to covering Sealy’s student-athletes.

After putting countless hours into covering Austin County sports, the community paid him back by helping him become an award-winning sports journalist.

Though his departure will likely leave a hole that the community will be eager to fill, McNanna believes that whoever his replacement ends up being will be given the tools for success just as he was. McNanna leaves his post with a few pieces of advice for The Sealy News’ next reporters, including some advice he received from his previous editor that encouraged individuality and unique perspectives in the position.

“Do your own thing. Integrate yourself into the community and just put in the work,” McNanna said.