R
ex Nelson has been a senior editor and columnist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2017, also hosting a biweekly podcast called "Southern Fried." After graduating from Ouachita Baptist University in 1981, he began his career as a sportswriter for the Arkansas Democrat before becoming editor of the Arkadelphia Daily Siftings Herald at just 23 years old.

    Nelson then worked as news and sports director at KVRC-KDEL from 1983-1985. He returned to the Democrat as assistant sports editor in 1985, later serving as its Washington correspondent from 1986-1989. In 1992, he became the Democrat-Gazette's first political editor but left in 1996 to join then-Gov. Mike Huckabee's office.

    Nelson also served in President George W. Bush's administration from 2005-09 and worked stints at the Communications Group, Arkansas' Independent Colleges and Universities, and Simmons First National Corp. between 2009-2018.