AUGUSTA, Ga.— Thomas H. Burgess has been named market manager for the new Athens, Ga., branch of Fairway Outdoor Advertising, a division of Morris Communications. The announcement was made today by Morris President William S. Morris IV.

Burgess is currently controller of the outdoor division and will retain those responsibilities in addition to overseeing the new operation. He has been an employee of Morris Communications for 32 years, and was business manager of The Augusta Chronicle before being named controller of Fairway in 1986.

The Athens branch, which consists of advertising displays in Alabama and Georgia, was created by the Feb. 14, 2003, purchase of Williamson Outdoor Advertising. Branch offices will be located in the Morris-owned Athens Banner-Herald building, with additional staff located at corporate headquarters in Augusta.

"Tom is an extremely capable individual and very knowledgeable in the outdoor industry. He already maintains a high level of responsibility in our company and is well deserving of this additional recognition of his talents," said Morris.

Fairway Outdoor Advertising, formerly Naegele Outdoor Advertising, was purchased by Morris Communications in 1985 and became a division under the Morris corporate banner. Headquartered in Augusta, Fairway has branches in four additional states.

Morris Communications is a privately held media company with diversified holdings that include newspaper and magazine publishing, outdoor advertising, radio broadcasting, book publishing and distribution, and online services. For more information, visit www.morris.com.