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Meyer made a difference

Another Meanderings column for the MCR. This one isn't hard to write — thoughts of Bill are flowing easily. I'll probably exceed my word count, which in the old days would result in a crisply worded, typewritten note on my desk.

My memories of Bill are strong, from the first day we met. We drove around the community, saw the Elgin Apartments, and discussed job responsibilities and pay. We settled on pay, (I wouldn't take less than $250 a week), and I started early in 1988. I planned to work a couple of years. I ended up leaving in November of 2002.

I learned a great deal from Bill. Those who were on the opposite side of blistering editorials will disagree with me, but Bill was a sensitive individual. When barbs flew back at him, they hurt. However, he did not step back from stating clear opinions. If he lost friends, or his health, because he took a stand, so be it. He wasn't in the business to be a well-loved community icon. He was in the business of making Marion County a better place.

Bill was a good boss. I didn't make a ton of money, but I was able to buy a house, replace a car, and put money aside for retirement. That's pretty much what anyone needs from a job, and it was a significant improvement over what is offered at many small newspapers. We had excellent health insurance; another newspaper publisher stated the only benefit they provided was a bit of life insurance, "so our employees' families don't have to pay for the casket."

And Bill backed his employees. I know that I didn't learn of some attacks, because he absorbed them for me. Occasionally, someone upset with me would threaten to "call the boss." I gave them his phone number, knowing he would listen to the complaint, respond as he wished, and turn his focus to next week's paper.

There were challenges. News happens 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I always had a clear sense that I was expected to do something newspaper-related every day of the week. However, Bill was at the office every day, too. It wasn't so much "you have to be at the office every day," but "who wouldn't want to be at a newspaper every day?" A fire in the belly can lead to burnout, but with Bill, it just seemed to burn brighter with each big or small issue that arrived.

I know he could have found a better reporter — there were plenty of talented folks who were eager for the opportunity to work for him. For whatever reason, we clicked, and I had the pleasure to work with him for almost 15 years.

I understand that Bill did not take easily to retirement. The problem was that his job was also his hobby. What he wanted to do in his spare time was put out a newspaper.

My strongest memory? We had a small staff at the MCR, and it meant more work when people were gone. But when my mother was dying, Bill let me go whenever I needed. Most bosses, even kind ones, need their employees on the job. It was simply not an issue for him.

600 words — 200 over the limit. Sorry, OE.

Be at peace. You made a difference every day. Many cannot say as much.

— MATT NEWHOUSE

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