Dean's Column

Share your memories at college reunion

By Will Norton Jr
Dean

  I was among those standing around Laurel Johnson on the stage of the renovated Opera House in Minden, Neb., during the spring of 2001 when he spoke after being inducted into the Nebraska Press Association Hall of Fame.

  It was truly heartwarming to listen as he talked of his good fortune to have spent a lifetime as a journalist. Those closest to him know he loved his work. That is why they chose the same profession. They knew the joy it offered.

  Even those of us who were not as close always felt Laurel’s enthusiasm.

  Laurel visited the college for a football luncheon soon after the Department of News-Editorial obtained its first Mac labs during the early 1990s.

  “I hear you have new computer labs,” he said after a brief greeting.

  “Sure. Let me show you,” I said, and we walked downstairs to Avery 108.

  I opened the lab and turned on the light, and he walked to the table of computers and began checking them out.

  I watched as he tried a variety of functions. Then he turned off the computer and headed for the door. “Now we can hire some of your grads,” he said with a big smile.

  The summer when Elna, Laurel’s spouse, was president of the Nebraska Press Association, the NPA summer convention was in Valentine, and I rode down the Niobrara, lying in the middle of a canoe and singing songs while Anne and Bud Pagel paddled. Later Laurel talked about that ride, and it was obvious to me that he enjoyed watching others enjoying the great outdoors of Nebraska as much as he enjoyed it himself. He loved to see others have a great time.

  Hundreds of people attended his funeral last March, and every speaker referred to Laurel’s incorrigible enthusiasm. There is no telling how many persons’ lives were changed because they met Laurel Johnson.

  The media of Nebraska lost another professional during the last few months. Dick Palmquist, the president of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, worked closely with Larry Walklin to develop the Soderlin Sales Seminars, to provide other distance learning opportunities and to help worthy students receive scholarships. We in the college are indebted to him for his capable leadership.

  Dick was at a dinner in 1995 when Charles Overby, CEO of The Freedom Forum, was speaking to the Dean’s Club members, those who have given more than $5,000 to the college. As Charles spoke, a homeless person staggered in the door of the dining room and wandered among the tables.

He eventually made it up to the front of the room and sort of lurched behind the speaker to a display near the front corner of the room

  I had been looking down as I listened to Charles talking when Charlyne Berens, in a stage whisper, attracted my attention.I knew I was supposed to do something, but I was not quite sure what. So I approached our visitor gingerly.

“Would you like something to drink?” I asked.

He nodded slowly.

“Why don’t we go over here and see what there is,” I said as we walked toward a table with soft drinks.

I could see the disappointment in our visitor’s eyes as I handed him the soft drink and led him out the door.

Later Dick told me that when the fellow first wandered by his table, he was trying to decide whether the guy was a donor or a retired journalist.

Like me, faculty and students in our college have many memories of their years in this college. That is why the Journalism Alumni Association has decided to host a college reunion. Careers pass quickly, and those early experiences on campus have special meaning. We hope you will take time from your busy schedules to set aside the weekend of Sept. 27 and 28 to be in Lincoln.

  We know Neale and Ollie Copple, Wilma Crumley and Jack and Dorris Botts will be there. We hope Jim Neal and Jim Patton will attend, and there will be dozens and dozens of folks with whom you went to school

  We’re going to videotape as many of your stories as we can. We hope we can put together a videotape of school and college memories.

  It will be a weekend to remember and one you will not want to miss.