OPINION|
I've recently written about Missouri State University's efforts to select its next president from three finalists.
It made me recall another presidential hiring that I covered a long time ago in Elgin, Illinois, where I worked at the Courier-News, a daily paper at the time owned by Copley Press.
What happened isn't that hard to explain. I wrote a story that I was able to get into print even after the top editor decided to hold it. This was in 1982.
I'm well aware that when a reporter publicly tells the tale of a former editor's newsroom favoritism, it might not be in the best interests of that reporter's career. It's something easier done in retirement.
From my perspective, as the reporter covering Elgin (Illinois) Community College, the paper's top editor had become too chummy with Mark L. Hopkins, president of the community college.
One trustee would stay behind and knit during closed meetings
Hopkins answered to a deeply divided board of trustees. There were at least two members who wanted him gone and publicly said so. Whenever there was an executive session, a discussion closed to the public, one member would remain at the board dais, knitting, as other members adjourned to a private meeting room.
Her name was Barbara Shock, and she had told me and other reporters that the only time she would ever attend a closed session would be when she knew for sure the topic was Hopkins' departure.
For his part, Hopkins had not helped his cause when he was involved in following a 19-year-old girl across town whom he thought might be involved in the egging of his house.
Hopkins was not convicted of any crime but that was because, as the judge explained, “stupidity” is not a crime.
The top editor of the Elgin Courier-News at the time was Leroy Clemens. His nickname was “Clem.”
I liked him. He made many fine decisions and fed me many news tips about Elgin Community College, but that was because he was friends with Hopkins. I remember they golfed together and socialized. How often? I don't recall.
None of Clem's news tips ever put Hopkins in a bad light. Hopkins did that on his own.
Clemens died in 2001. I just re-read his obituary and the many wonderful things that were said about him. And deservedly so.
My editor told me he already knew, which puzzled me
One day I received a call from Shock, the knitting trustee who wanted Hopkins gone.
She told me — halleluiah! — Hopkins had just been named the next president of Anderson College, a two-year Baptist college in Greenville, South Carolina.
I don't recall how I confirmed it. Times were different back then; I couldn't just google Hopkins' name.
I suspect I called Anderson College and was told that, yes, Hopkins was going to be its next president. His departure had not been announced in Elgin.
I immediately told my editors, including Clem.
Clem told me he already knew, which puzzled me. Weren't we on the same news staff? Wasn't I the reporter covering Elgin Community College?
Clem said we would wait on the story. He didn't tell me how long. He was concerned that even at that late date someone here in Elgin, perhaps Trustee Shock, would call South Carolina and screw things up for Hopkins.
My story, which was being held, leaked to our competitor
I thought this was absurd because, if anything, Hopkins' critics in Elgin would have loaded up his U-Haul and given him gas money.
I told Clem that Hopkins was a high-profile, news-worthy public figure and the fact he was leaving was news. I told Clem we had competition and I did not want to get beat.
I had worked to develop an open communication with Shock, despite her sometimes bizarre behavior, and despite the fact she did not like Clem and did not like my newspaper because she thought it was historically biased when it came to the community college.
I left Clem's office and expressed my frustration with my then-colleague Mark Masek, who had had the community college beat before me.
Our main competition was the Arlington Heights (Illinois) Daily Herald. The reporter who covered Elgin Community College for them was Paul Marcotte, a friend of mine to this day.
We were beat for no good reason
I don't know if Mark called Marcotte directly with the tip or if Mark — for purposes of deniability — had someone else place the call.
Either way. Mark told me the call was made. The Daily Herald ran the story the next day and, if I recall correctly, played it big. I think that was because, first, it was a solid story and, second, the Daily Herald had never before beat us on a major story.
I believe I gave an award-winning performance when I flipped a copy of the Daily Herald on Clem's desk and told him we got beat because we held a story for no good reason.
My story ran the next day.
This is Pokin Around column No. 163.
