NEWBERRY — Donald E. (Don) Wilder has been named the new Customer Relations Manager and Group Revenue Director of the South Carolina Group of Civitas Media’s publications in South Carolina.
The South Carolina Group includes The Newberry Observer in Newberry, The Herald Independent in Winnsboro, The Union Daily Times, The Easley Progress, The Pickens Sentinel and the Powdersville Post. He also will serve as the General Manager of the Newberry facility. Wilder replaces David Emmons who has returned to Florida to spend more time with his family.
Wilder was named to his new position by Joe Craig, Civitas Media’s Chief Revenue Officer.
“We are very pleased to be able to appoint a Sales Manager for our South Carolina newspapers with the enthusiasm and skills of Don Wilder,” Craig said. “Don is someone who has a history of deep involvement with the communities in which he serves as well as a track record of producing successful and improved newspaper products.”
Wilder, a longtime resident of the Upstate, has published newspapers in Union, and most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Hometown News Co., a group of newspapers in Spartanburg, Cherokee and Newberry counties.
“I am excited to become a part of Civitas Media and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead,” said Wilder. “It is especially gratifying to me to be able to return and work once again with the businesses and people I have grown to know and respect over the tenure of my career.”
Wilder served as publisher of The Union Daily Times from 1972 to 1995 when he was transferred as publisher to The Williamson Daily News in Williamson, W.Va. He left Williamson in 1996 to take over the management of Hometown News Co. in Spartanburg.
Wilder is a former president of the Union Chamber of Commerce, organizing president of the Union Kiwanis Club, and recipient of the Union Jaycee Chapter “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” award. The Union Vocational School also recognized him as “Advisor of the Year.”
At the state level, Wilder served as Highway Commissioner of the then 4th Congressional District consisting of Union and York counties and was the first chairman of the Union Highway Committee. He is the recipient of “The Order of The Palmetto,” South Carolina’s highest citizen award.
During his newspaper career, Wilder has served twice on the Executive Committee of the S.C. Press Association, and once on the Executive Committee of the West Virginia Press Association. While in Williamson, Wilder was appointed to and served on the Williamson Memorial Hospital board of directors.
Most recently Wilder, served as president of the Daniel Morgan Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution in Spartanburg.
He is married to the former Joyce Toler, and they have one daughter Shayna, wife of Steve Blackwell, publisher of The Greer Citizen, and one granddaughter Sagen Blackwell, 20, a graduate of Converse College pursuing her master’s degree at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.



















