Jay Thomas, 33, has been named Managing Editor of Greenville Newspapers, LLC, publishers of The Greenville Advocate, The Luverne Journal, The Lowndes Signal and The Butler County News.

Thomas, a Butler County native and 1988 graduate of Greenville High School, began his newspaper career as a staff writer at The Advocate in 1996 following his graduation from Troy State University, where he earned a degree in Journalism and was tapped as a member of the Hall School of Journalism Hall of Fame.

He returns to Greenville after working for the past two years as a city editor for The Montgomery Advertiser. He also served in management positions in Evergreen, Cordele, Ga. and Americus, Ga.

&uot;It is very exciting and emotional for me to return home to work at Greenville Newspapers,&uot; Thomas said.

&uot;After living in other areas of the country, there is nothing finer than being here with a group of strong professionals.

I look forward to our team making our community newspapers the best in the state.&uot;

Greenville Newspapers' president and publisher Dennis Palmer said the addition of Thomas to lead the editorial department will make an already strong editorial staff even stronger.

&uot;Jay brings a considerable amount of talent to our organization and I'm glad he's joined our team,&uot; Palmer said. &uot;Being from Butler County Jay understands what these newspapers mean to the communities they serve and I'm confident he has the skills and knowledge necessary to carry on the tradition of producing the best community newspapers in the state.&uot;

Thomas began work on Tuesday.