The Corcoran Journal which celebrated the start of its 110th year in October will be going through a major transformation in the next couple of months.
The biggest change is that after 44 years at The Journal Jeanette Todd has retired. Todd has been an important part of The Journal for over four decades. She began working at The Journal in 1974 as a reporter and advertising manager in which she served in that capacity for four years. She was then promoted to news editor and worked in that post for four years. In April 1982 she replaced Grace Ann Gregory as managing editor.
Jeanette has seen changes which include old typesetting machines to the current digital age. She has covered Corcoran City Council meetings, Corcoran School Board and the controversial closing of Corcoran District Hospital. Throughout her tenure as editor Todd has been an important asset to not only the newspaper but to Corcoran.
She has volunteered countless hours serving Corcoran through her work with the Corcoran Rotary Club, Corcoran 50/50 Club and as a board member for the Corcoran Cemetery District. Jeanette has served on the board for the Corcoran Chamber of Commerce and was a founding member for CAST (Community and Schools Together) which provides funding for extracurricular activities and enrichment programs for students of the Corcoran Unified School District. She also serves on the Corcoran Community Foundation.
In the past, Todd has also dedicated many hours as a coach for the Corcoran YMCA sports teams, as a board member for Corcoran Babe Ruth and a cheer coach at Corcoran High School.
Jeanette has worked on numerous boards and committees including the Corcoran Centennial Committee and has helped with the Corcoran Christmas Tree Committee. She has been recognized for her work by the Corcoran Chamber who named her the 1996 Woman of the Year. She has served as chairman for the Civic Affairs Committee and the Corcoran Chamber of Commerce’s Merchant’s Association. She was team mom for the Corcoran High School football team, volunteered for the John Muir Mentoring Program which benefitted at-risk youth and was also an academic tutor to students. She has also served as chairman for the Sober Grad Committee.
Todd has received recognition and honors from the Kings County Office of Education, was the Kings County Peace Officers Association’s Citizen of the Year in 2003, and was recognized for her commitment to the community by former Congressman Charles “Chip” Pashayan Jr. just to name a few.
Jeanette’s desire to keep community members informed of the actions of the local government truly made her a great editor. Her level of commitment to the community is unmatched. The Journal hopes to continue on with that work to properly honor her legacy. A retirement luncheon is being planned for Nov. 5 to honor Jeanette and all that she has done for Corcoran.
