Portal:1960s
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Missouri Journalism in the 1960s
The School’s print and broadcast sequences continued to produce talented journalists during the 1960s, and KOMU-TV built its reputation as a premier broadcast training lab. However, the outside world was increasingly volatile. From Kennedy’s assassination to civil rights to Vietnam, the journalism industry found constant breaking news.
Education at Missouri Creates Diverse Opportunities
Submitted by Donna Logan, BJ '60
Meeting Eleanor Roosevelt during the J-School’s 50th anniversary of 1958 was my introduction to the exciting world of journalism. The former First Lady’s talk and book-signing began my 35-year career in which I honed my versatility in covering everything but the courts, meeting my deadlines as drilled into my head by the J-School professors, and interviewing hundreds of people from all walks of life, all with a story to tell.
I graduated from Missouri in 1960 and went off to Colorado to begin reporting for the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph where I was immediately assigned the remarkably varied news beat of the Broadmoor Hotel, City Hall, Air Force Academy, Ft. Carson and NORAD.
The Broadmoor resort drew celebrities who entertained at the new International Center, many of whom I met and interviewed: Marlene Dietrich, Carol Channing, Liberace, Ray Bolger, Peter Nero, Harry Belafonte, Nat “King” Cole, Bob Newhart, Benny Goodman.
Lee Iococca announced Ford’s new Thunderbird. Opera great Eleanor Steber vacationed with her miniature white poodle.
At the Air Force Academy I covered President Kennedy’s arrival for the graduation address in June 1963 and managed the local news connection after his death in November.
When a dynamite blast marked the official groundbreaking for NORAD’S Air Defense Center at Cheyenne Mountain I reported the story, but as the underground tunnels were bored I was barred from follow-up visits because the miners considered a woman bad luck for tunnel workers. But meeting Generals Joe Foss and Laurence Kuter in briefings helped make up for that superstitious outlook.
Back at the office, my page makeup abilities found me often substituting as wire editor, another Missouri J-School skill. I particularly recall my front page on the August day that the Berlin Wall went up. The lead photo: an East German soldier leaping over the wall to freedom.
Moving on to The Denver Post as a general assignment reporter I met and wrote about golfer Jack Nicklaus, entertainer Jack Benny, actor Ernest Borgnine, Lady Bird Johnson, Clare Boothe Luce, and—on the same day—polio vaccine finder Dr. Jonas Salk, and futurist R. Buckminster Fuller.
In the earlier days of rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, The Post sent me on a week-long trip to relate the experience to readers in 1967. When the first heart transplant was performed in Denver, I covered that, too.
My Missouri journalism degree created many opportunities over the years, leading me beyond reporting into public relations and teaching. In 1973 I became the first information director for the newly-created Missouri Department of Natural Resources followed by a public relations position in industry, an eventual master’s degree in journalism (from Colorado), and then teaching journalism to students.
Missouri’s always had the best journalism school in the country, and in the 50 years since Mrs. Roosevelt signed her book, I know it still does.
Callaway, Libby Neal: See 1950s portal for story.
Successful Sports Career Takes Graduate from Cardinals to Iditarod and Beyond
Submitted by Lori Havens Greenstein, BJ ’65
‘Failures’ Don’t Stop a Dream
Well, G. Tom Duffy, Eugene Sharp and Phil Norman were right. I failed to pull off the challenge to become the first (or possibly second) real world woman SPORTSWRITER
from Mizzou’s illustrious J-School--specializing in football.
I worked really hard under Sports Editor Roger Cushman’s direction on the Missourian Sports Desk. I fought the constant credibility battle. I studied Dan Devine’s Missouri Power Football textbook so I KNEW that I knew a whole lot about football. I also had coaching from MU players.
But I would have to travel with the team if I were given the Tigers’ color analyst beat. That wouldn’t do, so I had to excel at my alma mater Hickman Kewpie football assignment, instead. That was my first failure.
I came close, though…I was HIRED by Duncan Bauman, Managing Editor of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, to be their first woman sportswriter, when interviewed before graduation.
Sadly, when I contacted Mr. Bauman about starting my job, he asked that I first visit Executive Editor, Charles Pierson. He managed to worry me immediately by asking if I could run a typewriter. I responded that I could and had just graduated from the University of Missouri Journalism School.
The next question was worse: “I assume you would like to work on our Woman’s page?” He waved a red flag at my inner bull. I sat as straight as I could, looked him in the eye and said, “No sir! I’m a Sportswriter!”
He delivered the worst line ever – killing my dream in the process: “Nope. The language is too salty.” The end. (Actually, that story does have an ironic ending…Mr. Pierson ultimately retired and came to work on the game program for the Cardinals – under MY supervision!)
Meeting a Legend
Journalism Week, 1965 offered the opportunity to attend a reception for the honored
BJ graduate – the venerable Walter Cronkite.
I extended my hand to shake his and introduced myself as Lori Havens. He asked my major. Without missing a beat and without fanfare, I said, “I’m a Sportswriter.”
Those famous blue eyes became HUGE and he turned to his wife and said, “Martha, I believe this young woman is the prettiest sportswriter I have ever seen!” And I am sure I was!
Help From Fellow Alums
Devastated, but unsinkable and downright lucky, a friend sent me to see a fellow Women in Communications member, an amazing St. Louis public relations executive, Ruth Jacobsen. She became my cause champion and made the right call.
J-school alum JOE POLLACK was the Public Relations Director for the St. Louis Football Cardinals at that time.
In less than five minutes into our interview, Joe concluded that he could use an assistant. YES! Part of my challenge was reached – on Aug. 10,1965, I became the FIRST WOMAN assistant PR director in the National Football League.
Joe was my boss, my mentor and my friend. And he put my football knowledge, writing skills, advertising and promotion training, coupled with my “legendary people skills” (a title given me later in life), to work for the Cardinals.
I had SOME FUN and a bit of an ego trip during my tenure with the Big Red. I wrote articles for the game program, ran the press box where the food was, worked with the community, coaches and players. And answered lots of fan questions, among many other tasks. There was lots of publicity for the Cardinals with feature stories written.
I even rated this page in the December, 1966 Missouri Alumnus and gained the title of “Little Woman in a Big Man’s Field.”
The highlight of my all-too-brief career, which was cut short by family building, was teaching how to watch football to hundreds of women (and some men). The best ego trip was being featured on the “NFL Today” – teaching football and doing my job.
From a student in that classroom, I learned the best “Humiliate the know-it-all-fan” (usually male, of course) stumper question: “How wide is the neutral zone?” I am still having fun with that, today!
Adventures in Life
I have become a storyteller. As the chapters of my life adventure have evolved, there seems to be a pattern --I call it “Tryin’ to do life”. I suffer from a constant quest (NEED) for experience and have a never-ending “bucket list,” which always results in stories.
Many of those adventures have centered on slow, but “exciting” riding activities:
My Hot Air Ballooning career: This enabled me to use J-School skills in my volunteer role as PR director for the Balloon Federation of America. (My ultimate 1987 PR campaign –“Great Balloon Lift for Farmers”, 1987 –generated nationwide publicity and the ultimate cap to a campaign for farmer landowner relations – a photo of a Hot Air Balloon over a barn on the cover of “Progressive Farmer” Magazine!) We raised about $40,000 and saved a struggling farm in Wisconsin. I also hold an unofficial altitude record in Illinois (26,500 feet).
My Dogsled team – and sled dog racing promotion: While working for a PR firm in St. Louis, one of my accounts was Purina Mills, sponsor of Susan Butcher, four-time Iditarod winner. I had a chance to work with her, leading to my passion for the sport.
Lori, my namesake, is main leader for the Anduril Kennels team from Bozeman, Mont. In 1998, I met my musher when I rode in his sled at the start of the Beargrease Sled Dog Race in Minnesota. I hurled myself into promoting the sport and “my team.” We ran Iditarod in 2000 and 2005, with Lori in lead. Sadly, Rob had to scratch before reaching Nome. But the experience was awesome. In 2000, I earned a coveted Volunteer hat and became the “No Moose Button Lady” --having created buttons (circle with slash across moose) for the mushers, to ensure safe passage from Moose on the trail. They worked, too! I took pictures and wrote stories.
These avocations and adventures allowed me to check off goals on my “Bucket list.” I rode in a Hot Air Balloon (many times), dog sled and I even scammed a ride on a Zamboni at a Phoenix Coyote hockey game!
On Feb. 1, 2008, I lopped off the top item on my Bucket List – I rode in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile!
And how? I told the driver, an enthusiastic young man named Matt Mitchell, that I NEEDED to ride the Wienermobile. I also told him I had a history with it – having last seen it in Columbia when there for a reunion. He said, “Tell me you’re not a graduate of the University of Missouri?” I responded with, “And a bully for old Mizzou, Rah Rah Rah Rah.” And then I added that I had received a BJ. He did, too!
That cinched it. At the stroke of 5p.m., I climbed into the incredibly creative rig, took pictures and rode to the end of the parking lot -- all because I graduated from J-School at the University of Missouri – and it was facilitated by a fellow BJ!
I must admit to having some fun at his expense – when I mused that I had graduated as a pioneer woman sportswriter…and he graduated from the best J-school in the land to…drive the Wienermobile??? He quickly pointed out that Kraft hires many marketing and advertising BJ’s. And that’s good!
A Successful Career
So there you have it -- How fellow J-school alums have helped the Old Broad along!
I have been debating whether to submit these stories or not. I did not reach the goal of being a working newspaper sportswriter.
But I did go into a locker room or two and concluded that I would always get a better story AFTER the players had a shower. And I certainly don’t need to be in a locker room to write a FEATURE story. Duh. I am appalled at sports writing that I see today. And what happened to the PAST TENSE? Headline should read The Tigers Won--not The Tigers Win. (The game is over).
But here it is -- the result of encouragement.
I particularly want to thank Alice Samuels Handelman, my long-time friend and story collaborator when we were students – we shared “Duffy’s favorites” status. (She got “Abortion issues” for her feature series assignment. I got “The Wino.”)
I had a recent re-connection with my sports editor, Roger Cushman, who encouraged me to write this – after a long discussion about if I rate the title of “successful graduate.” He says I do.
I also noticed an alumni note from fellow Missourian Sportswriter, Len Ziehm (who DID get the Tiger beat because he COULD travel with the team!) I sent him an email – raving that it was good to see that SOMEONE from our sports staff in 1965 made it to the big-time. He has been with the Chicago Sun Times for 38 years. He has been covering Chicago Blackhawks hockey. I even gave him a story idea – humor piece on watching goalies drink! We’ll do lunch when he comes to cover a game with our Phoenix Coyotes.
It’s all good.
