Tributes and stories about BJ managing editor Doug Oplinger, who retired
today:
From Bob Downing:
“Met
Doug Oplinger, ABJ managing editor who retires today, in spring 1972. I was
finishing at Kent State and interviewing for part-time ABJ job.
“I was
warned by the late Terry Oblander that Doug who was already a part-timer was
likely to be testy and surly. He was. He had his white shirt, brief case and
pocket protector. He looked 14.
“Oblander
said the surliness was because Doug was the only Akron U journalism part-timer
hired by the late Pat Englehart at that time on the State Desk. Doug hated it
when Kent State journalism students got hired. He took that very personally (at
least at first).
“He
asked derisively if I even knew where Lakemore was. He was very pleased when I
said I had no idea. Despite that introduction, we became friends and co-workers
for a long time. Congrats, Dougie.”
"Surly" is not the behavior I ever witnessed from Doug, even when he was Features Editor and I was TV Editor and Travel Editor at Ol' Blue Walls.
From Larry Pantages:
“In
about 30 days, it will be 30 years since the Pulitzer Prize committee
recognized work captained by Doug on coverage of the attempted corporate takeover
of Goodyear. The honor was well-deserved. Put your John Deere hat on, Doug.
Flaps up.”
From Peggy Rader:
“Do I
remember Oplinger making a road trip to Colorado for Coors, taking money from
all of us to bring back cases in the truck?”
By the
way, Paula and I visited Coors in Colorado, and got free samples of seven
varities of beer. I was surprised that the state police weren’t waiting on the
driveway to the highway to make sobriety checks.
In our
case, we use West Virginia University football road games as an excuse to take
a 7- to 10-day sightseeing tour in that area. After WVU played Colorado in
Boulder we took in several national parks, including Yellowstone, and the free
beer samples from Coors.
We
also sampled the products at the Guinness plant in Ireland while enjoying a
rooftop 360-degree view of Dublin. Not as many samples as from Coors, though.
From
Pam McCarthy and Cathy Strong, former State Desk reporters:
Pam, illustrious North Canton Hoover journalism/English teacher: "Wishing you all the best, Doug, in your
retirement. Remember when you, Catherine Robinson Strong and I were all
newbies. Though I was the newest of the newbies!”
From Massey University professor (in
Wellington, New Zealand) Cathy: “Best in your retirement, Doug. I haven't
worked with you since 42 years ago but you are in the ‘fond memory’ part of my
brain. Have a lovely sendoff.”
From me to Doug, the baby-faced Springfield
High student with the John Deere cap who survived the Tasmanian devil, Mogadore’s
famous Pat Englehart, while I was assistant State Desk editor:
“Doug, if you want to go to a Mountaineer
Field football game, I can arrange it. I have 2 season tickets on the 40. One
caveat: You have to join in singing ‘Country Roads’ if WVU wins.”
That got a Facebook “like” from Doug. I’ll
take that as a yes from a Buckeyes fan. Have you people check with my people, Doug, and we'll pick a date for this State Desk reunion in Gold and Blue land.
Still later, Doug emailed this to me:
"John:
"Thanks for the kind
note. We had some great times at the Beacon Journal. The State Desk was a
unique place, full of very very odd people who together did incredible work.
"The Beacon Journal
marched a long line of wonderful mentors through the newsroom and I learned
from every one. So happy I stumbled into William Randolph Hershey.
"Diane and I plan to
do some traveling, starting simple for now. I need to get organized for the new
venture, then get a passport so we can get serious about seeing the world.
"Doug"
Doug’s new work
address:
