Growing up with Bill
Everyone has their own memory of Bill Meyer. Mine started out long distance. My family and I moved in 1963 from Marion, when I was five years old. My father, Cyril Reznicek, was a strong Meyer/Marion County Record supporter. When we moved, the paper moved with us.
Every week the "Old Rag" would arrive in our mail and was read voraciously by my father, who in turn read it to me. He always had a comment or two about Bill's editorials — not always agreeing.
I feel like I've known Bill most of my life because my father spoke of him, admired him, and most of all respected him.
When I met Bill as an adult, I was impressed with how congenial, friendly, and encouraging he was. He laid it on the line. Said what he thought. If you didn't like it, that was OK, as long as you gave him a chance to express his opinions.
And he had opinions.
Not always the popular or politically correct ones but I admired his loyalty to them.
Bill could see qualities in people that the rest of us missed. He didn't want to see anybody get "off of the hook" if they deserved to be on it, especially public figures.
As a boss, he demanded accuracy but was the first to offer encouragement when things didn't exactly go that way.
Bill, you will be missed. Your legacy will live on through your family, your works, and mostly through your dedication to the freedom of speech.
— SUSAN BERG
