An octogenarian's hobby

GLADYS SHAY / For the Hungry Horse News

Talking about the good old days almost makes me forget I am an octogenarian. Can even spell it. Years have flown by so quickly.

Becky and I were discussing opinions concerning the life and world of a reporter. She told about newspaper experiences and changes in her 20 years as a reporter comparing 67 years I have enjoyed it. Becky was a reporter for Hungry Horse News, Cody Enterprise and Billings Gazette.

My titles have been assistant editor, society editor, reporter, for the Hungry Horse News. It all boils down to one thing — reporting.

Some stories may seem to be insignificant but are important to persons and organizations involved. Skills developed include knowing people and organizations, spelling names correctly, protecting sources, when to be discreet and when to publicize. If I had a motto it would be to obey my intuition.

Seems that reporting has become more sensational and less human throughout the years. Violent crimes were not as numerous, fewer fatal car accidents, less population, subdivisions, million dollar homes, businesses, unknown. Perhaps life was just much simpler.

Big news was construction of Hungry Horse Dam which created influx of workers. Canyon area boomed with new communities, Columbia Falls expanded for first time in probably 50 years. Dam employees drove from Polson and other areas and a special bus came from Kalispell. Mills were growing in Columbia Falls area, including longtime Stoltze at Half Moon. Timber sales brought funds for schools plus logging jobs.

My first journalism experience was writing Girl Scout troop news.

Started working for Kalispell Times when I was 14, next at the Kalispell News during high school. Frank Trippet, editor, wanted to start a newspaper in Columbia Falls. I spent weekends here with ad, news beats.

Working on the high school newspaper, Flathead Arrow, and coeditor of the 1946 Flathead Annual continued writing talents those days.

I stayed with my aunt and uncle, Mayor John and Claudia O'Connell, when covering Columbia Falls beats for the Kalispell News.

Mel Ruder came to the O'Connell home one Sunday morning in July, 1946.

Mel asked me if I wanted to work for him as he was starting a newspaper here. I became first and only employee of the Hungry Horse News with first edition 8 August 1946.

I was ad salesman in Columbia Falls and Kalispell, did classads, subscriptions, typist, answered phone, copyreader, proofreader, reporter, bookkeeper, 18 years old. I lived with grandparents, Anna and Ira Ross. I worked at both newspaper office and home through the years and six pregnancies. Each child sat on my lap as I telephoned and typed.

Today I sit in my home office, take notes on my iMac, send to HP printer for a hard copy, e-mail to the newspaper office. It is a great hobby.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident of Columbia Falls and Hungry Horse News columnist.