The Indiana Publisher

Page 2 February 11, 2016 Printer's devil did it all while learning the ropes R obert E. "Bob" Pearcy, former editor and publisher of The Dan- ville Gazette, passed away Jan. 27, 2016, at the age of 89. A lifelong resident of Danville, he graduated from Danville High School in 1944. After serving in the U.S. Navy dur- ing World War II, he began working part-time at The Gazette as sports editor and printer's devil. "I wore all the hats," he once recalled. "I swept floors, washed windows, repaired equipment and ran a hand- fed printing press – the whole ball of wax." He attended Canterbury College at Danville in 1948 before transferring to Butler University, where he was make-up editor for The Collegian. After receiving a B.A. in Journalism in 1951, he left for a stint in the Navy, serv- ing in the Korean conflict. Returning to his hometown in 1952, Vera M. Hall, owner of The Gazette, added Pearcy to the full-time staff. He became the paper's editor in 1953. The Danville Gazette incor- porated in 1960, with Hall as president and Pearcy as vice president. The Gazette, a Democratic party supporter, had its office next to its "rival," The Republican, where Pearcy's classmate throughout elemen- tary and high school, Betty Jean Weesner, worked for her father, Edward J. "Pug" Weesner and later became editor and publisher. Although of opposing politi- cal parties, The Gazette and The Republican were col- leagues in journalism and often shared the work of setting tax rates and other lengthy notices on the lino- type. Readers looked forward to Pearcy's column, "Battin' the Breeze," in which he gave his views from the "Bobservation Post" looking out his office window on Main street. In an interview with The Indianapolis News, Pearcy said, "It's been satisfying to see the young people who worked with me, and for me, succeed." One of them was a high school student, Gary Varvel, now editorial cartoonist for The Indianapolis Star and an Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame inductee. Pearcy became a member of HSPA in 1966 and was elected its 34th Board of Directors president in 1973. During the 1970s, Pearcy also served as president the Indiana Democratic Editors Association and Indiana Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Pearcy was also active in his community, being a charter member of the Danville Rotary Club, deacon and elder at the Danville Christian Church, served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, and as chairman of the local Easter Seals cam- paign. He sold The Gazette to Mid-States Newspapers Inc. of Brownsburg, publishers of The Guide, but continued as its editor. On Pearcy's retirement in 1991, Wendell Trogdon, editor for The Indianapolis News, said, "He has cared about Hendricks County and the people there. His stories, edi- torials and columns made it a better place. He set a high standard for the newspaper business, and he did not devi- ate from it." Pearcy's wife, Marthalyn, died in May 2015. His son, Robert L. Pearcy of Danville, two granddaughters and seven great-grandchildren survive him. Robert E. Pearcy L I K E H O O S I E R S TAT E P R E S S A S S O C I AT I O N O N FA C E B O O K F O R I N D U S T R Y N E W S , D E A D L I N E S A N D OT H E R U P D AT E S HSPA staff Steve Key, executive director and general counsel skey@hspa.com • (317) 624-4427 Pamela Lego, MAP advertising director plego@hspa.com • (812) 350-7711 Milissa Tuley, communications specialist mtuley@hspa.com • (317) 624-4430 Yvonne Yeadon, office manager yyeadon@hspa.com • (317) 624-4433 Shawn Goldsby, advertising coordinator sgoldsby@hspa.com • (317) 803-4772 Karen T. Braeckel, retired HSPA Foundation director kbraeckel @hspa.com The Indiana Publisher is published monthly by Hoosier State Press Association, 41 E. Washington St., Suite 301, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, (317) 803-4772. ISSN 0019-6711 USPS 058-730. Periodicals-class postage paid at Indianapolis, Ind., and at additional mailing office. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Indiana Publisher, 41 E. Washington St., Suite 301, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, (317) 803-4772, Fax (317) 624-4428 Website: www.hspa.com Subscriptions $25 per year. Ad rates furnished upon request. HSPA calendar Now Bicentennial series available for download Feb. 26 Pulliam Internship application deadline for newspapers & students March 3 Pulliam Selection Committee meeting, HSPA office, Indianapolis June 29 APME/HSPA Foundation Road Show for Reporters July 22 Pulliam Intern luncheon & multimedia presentations Sept. 15-16 HSPA & Foundation Annual Conference + Advertising Awards Gala, Indianapolis HSPA Foundation Board of Directors HSPA Foundation Officers HSPA Foundation Board of Directors HSPA Board of Directors HSPA Officers President: Chris White, The Times Media Co. Secretary/Treasurer: Chuck Wells, Home News Enterprises HSPA Board Members John Haley, Pulaski County Journal (Winamac) Robyn McCloskey, Pharos-Tribune (Logansport) and Kokomo Tribune Greg Morris, IBJ Corp. Jon O'Bannon, The Corydon Democrat Pete Van Baalen, The Elkhart Truth Kim Wilson, South Bend Tribune President: Nancy Grossman, Leader Publishing Vice President: Michael J. Christman, Fort Wayne Newspapers Secretary: William "B.J." Riley, CNHI Treasurer: Jeff Rogers, Home News Enterprises Curt Jacobs, The Madison Courier Barbara King, North Vernon Plain Dealer & Sun Patrick Lanman, Vevay Media Group Mayer Maloney, Hoosier Times Inc. Mark Miller, The News-Banner (Bluffton) Jack Pate, Evansville Courier & Press John Rumbach, The Herald (Jasper) The Republican (Danville) The schedule for publication of local government units' annual reports is as follows: County Following the second regu- lar meeting of the county commissioners, the report should be posted and published (IC 36-2-2-19). According to the state Board of Accounts, newspapers should expect those reports in February. The annual financial report output that will meet the requirement of IC 36-2- 2-19 is called Cash & Investments Combined, according to the state Board of Accounts. Cities and towns Within 60 days after the end of the calendar year (dead- line – Monday, Feb. 29, 2016), the fiscal officer is to publish an annual report of receipts and disbursements (IC 5-3-1-3). Many libraries and special districts with budgets of $300,000 or more also have to publish within 60 days after year end. School corporations No earlier than Aug. 1 nor later than Aug. 15, the secretary of each school corporation must publish an annual financial report (IC 5-3-1-3). Townships Within four weeks after the third Tuesday following the first Monday in February (deadline – Tuesday, March 15, 2016), the township trustee is to publish an abstract of receipts and dis- bursements (IC 36-6-4-13). To avoid squabbles over publication costs, township trustees and newspaper should note that budget lines with $0 amounts do not have to be included in the published report. This will serve to condense the size of the publication. Questions? Contact HSPA's Steve Key at skey@hspa.com. Remind officials about annual reports schedule CORRECTION Township trustees must publish an abstract of receipts and disbursements within four weeks after the third Tuesday following the first Monday in February. The 2016 deadline is Tuesday, March 15. This date was incor- rect in the January 2016 edition of The Indiana Publisher.

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