Brian D. Sweany, center, at the Texas Monthly office, where he was named the magazine’s newest editor-in-chief.

We are beyond thrilled to announce that Brian D. Sweany has been named the editor-in-chief of Texas Monthly. And beyond thrilled is no exaggeration. When the staff congregated today to hear the news, sustained applause reverberated through the conference room, with a few hoots, hollers, and “hear, hear”s throw in for good measure. There’s been an overwhelmingly positive response on Twitter, from staffers, former staffers, and well-wishing readers. 

And all this praise is for good reason. As anyone who has met Brian knows, there is no better person for this job. If you believe in birthrights, you might consider it more than coincidence that he was born on March 2, what anyone who passed seventh-grade history in Texas knows as the state’s Independence Day. But for reasons well beyond a coincidental birth date, Brian embodies the Texas spirit. He works hard; he thinks big; he pushes himself and those around him to be better and stronger; and he does this all with grace, charm, and infinite good manners. 

He’s also enormously qualified for the job. From the CV: 

A native Texan who was born on Texas Independence Day, Sweany was raised in Plano. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of North Texas, in Denton, and a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Over the past two decades, he has covered all aspects of life in Texas, from sports and politics to food and music.  Sweany has served in a variety of leadership roles at TM over the years, including director of the magazine’s political coverage, editor of special projects in charge of events, and digital editor responsible for helping rethink the magazine’s web strategy. In May 2009 he edited “Still Life,” by Skip Hollandsworth, which won the magazine’s first-ever National Magazine Award for feature writing, and he has edited numerous stories that have won awards from the City and Regional Magazine Association and the Texas Institute of Letters.

But it’s our president, Elynn J. Russell, who said it best: “Brian’s knowledge of this state is rivaled only by his love for it. This is a match made in heaven, or, as we call it, Texas.”