ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Tom Marquardt, editor and publisher of Capital Gazette Communications, will retire at the end of the year.

The Capital  newspaper made the announcement Friday.

Marquardt has spent more than 35 years at the newspaper, having joined the Evening Capital as managing editor in 1977. He was promoted to executive editor in 2001 and has been editor and publisher of Capital Gazette Communications since 2008.

Pat Richardson, publisher of the Carroll County Times in Westminster, will take over Jan. 1 as publisher in Annapolis. Richardson will serve as regional publisher for both newspapers, which are owned by Landmark Media Enterprises LLC of Norfolk, Va.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)