Judges' Comments
	"He writes clear statements of position with a conversational tone and clever words that keep the reader engaged."
	Watchdog or Pussycat: Texas Environmental Body Must Not Be Tail Wagged by Industry A Killing in Panhandle: Profiteers Threaten Aquifer; Texas Must End Water War A Jailbreak's Cost Public Safety Questions Must Be Raised About Profit Function

John Young of the Waco Tribune-Herald has been winning in the Best of Cox since the second year of the competition. Yet his editorials remain as uncompromising as ever, perhaps more so. Texas politicians who have felt their sting would have to ruefully agree.

The fate of water in aquifers under Texas is a major environmental issue. Young’s editorials about it have helped bring about legislative change.

"In the sunset process restructuring the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, and in language specifically aimed at protecting the Bosque watershed (which feeds the source of Waco’s drinking water), the legislature did much of what we wanted," Young said.

"We still suspect that the agency is serving two masters. But emblematic of what the legislature ordered is a new name: Texas Environmental Quality Commission. That sounds clear enough."

Young lambasted water-mining companies suing for rights to harvest and sell underground water. He wrote that they are "like jackals squared off over carrion." What has developed on that front since?

"That’s the longest shot of all, since the ‘right of capture’ for groundwater is considered sacrosanct by many," Young said. "Whether or not that endures will depend on the legislature reconvening in January 2003.

"We think by attaching the face of water profiteer Boone Pickens to the issue we made it more compelling."

When a prisoner escaped from a county jail that is managed by a private company, Young documented the costs in hunting him down: at least $600,000.

"Having a private company handling such a function as incarceration, with its safety and civil rights implications, is a troubling notion unto itself," Young wrote.

Young has won eight first places in the Best of Cox. They are: 1989 Editorial writing; 1990 Editorial writing; 1993 Column writing; 1994 Column writing; 1997 Humorous writing; 1997 Column writing; 2000 Editorial writing; and 2002 Editorial writing.