Big shoes to fill
For those of us who worked with Bill Meyer, the familiar strains of "Wabash Cannonball" still echo through the composing room on Tuesday afternoons. First, there would be the slam of the front door, then a hearty whistle which gave way to the refrain of "Wabash Cannonball." We'd settle in to paste-up the pages (and in later years, design them on computers) and the stories would begin.
Bill had a lot of stories. And why not? The man had done everything, knew everyone, and been everywhere. In between stories, he taught me about paste-up and page design and little by little, I learned the newspaper business. I fondly look back on those Tuesdays as "the good ol' days."
He absolutely loved being a newspaperman and he enjoyed teaching the craft to others.
He had a knack for finding some hidden quality in people. I've watched a steady parade of interns and employees pass through the Record office and he always knew which ones were going on to great things.
I came to work here as a high school student. Like so many others who came through the front door, I intended to stay awhile, then move on to bigger and better things. But life is funny, and 26 years later — I'm still here learning the newspaper business.
Bill loved this community. He dedicated his life to making Marion a better place to live. It is nearly impossible to drive through town without seeing some landmark or facility that does not have Bill Meyer's thumbprint.
Life with Bill wasn't always easy. His editorials were not always popular. But as he often said, being a newspaper editor wasn't the way to win friends.
He had a lot of sayings and stories. Most had a message and were designed to teach a lesson. There were obvious lessons like avoid butting headlines or keep stories tight and concise. After all, he said, more than 400 words is excessive.
There were lessons that aren't so obvious. Things like the importance of doing the right thing and the value of integrity.
A few months ago, after a particularly trying week, I told him I didn't think I was cut out for the newspaper business. He looked me in the eye and said, "You're one of the best newspapermen I know." Coming from Bill Meyer, that was indeed high praise.
More so, it was a challenge to continue the legacy of Bill Meyer and the Marion County Record. Those are big shoes to fill but I learned from the best. After all, "he raised me from a pup."
— DONNA BERNHARDT
