By Todd Hatton
Hopkinsville, KY – The former publisher of The Kentucky New Era has died. Robert C. Carter passed away Saturday at his home in Hopkinsville. He had been diagnosed with cancer. Carter began his career with The New Era as a salesman in 1953 and rose to the rank of publisher before retiring in 1997. He served on the newspaper's board of directors until 2003 and was named last year to the University of Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame. Carter also served as president of the Kentucky Press Association, and was instrumental in getting state laws passed in the 1970s making official records and meetings more accessible to the public. Carter is survived by his wife Ann and two daughters.