[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1294-E1295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          HONORING DON KAMPFER

                                 ______


                             HON. TOBY ROTH

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 1995
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a member of our 
community who has worked diligently to uphold the highest standards of 
American journalism. [[Page E 1295]] 
  After 36 years at the Post-Crescent in Appleton, WI, publisher and 
general manager, Don Kampfer, will retire on July 31.
  In the newspaper business--like many businesses--you start from 
scratch every day and hope your efforts gain wide acceptance by your 
customers and high praise from your peers. The Post-Crescent, under 
Don's direction, has achieved both.
  He has guided Appleton's daily newspaper through some turbulent times 
in the industry, and the Post-Crescent has not only survived, but grown 
and flourished as an award-winning publication.
  Don was born in Chilton, WI, and has lived there ever since. He is a 
graduate of Chilton High School and served his country in the Korean 
conflict. Don became a self-made person. He never attended college, but 
became such a capable newsman that he is undoubtedly qualified to teach 
college journalism.
  Don's tenure at the Post-Crescent started when he left a position 
with his hometown newspaper, the Chilton Times-Journal, to open an 
editorial and circulation office for the Post-Crescent in Chilton. From 
that day forward he worked himself from the bottom of the news 
operation to the very top. He went on to hold the positions of farm 
editor, copy desk editor, regional editor, Sunday editor, news editor, 
managing editor, and executive editor.
  Throughout his career, Don was a mentor for aspiring journalists and 
has been called a newsman's newsman. He was very dedicated to his 
profession, rarely calling in sick or taking a vacation.
  Kampfer was named general manager of the Post-Crescent in 1982. Since 
then, Don has distinguished himself in Wisconsin as an accomplished 
journalist, manager, and businessman. Don used the skills he attained 
in his ascension to publisher when he assumed that role in 1986. By 
that time, he had an in-depth
 knowledge of every facet of the newspaper business, including 
production, advertising, and circulation.

  He put his skills to good use. Juggling the needs of a community, its 
subscribers, a newspaper staff, advertisers, and a parent company is no 
easy task, but Don handled it all with skill and sensitivity.
  His redesign of the Post-Crescent is one of the highlights of his 
career. At a time when many newspapers felt the need to compete with 
television--with flashy graphics and less room for hard news--the Post-
Crescent stayed true to its tradition of in-depth reporting and 
continued focus on the people and events of the Fox Valley. It remains 
to this day a first-class newspaper.
  As the Post-Crescent's circulation grew under Don's watchful eye, so 
did the newspaper's involvement in the community. The Post-Crescent 
sponsors dozens of charitable events every year and has donated 
$500,000 in free advertising to a variety of nonprofit organizations.
  Among the beneficiaries of the newspaper's good will have been the 
YMCA, Outagamie County Museum, Thompson Senior Center, Appleton Library 
Foundation, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Fox Cities Growth Alliance, Fox 
Cities Stadium, and the Avenue Mall development.
  Like so many others, I count on the Post-Crescent for news of the Fox 
Valley and will always be a faithful subscriber. Lately it has been 
fashionable in Washington to attack the media for being too negative, 
too cynical or too liberal. Such attacks would fall flat against Don 
Kampfer and the Post-Crescent, however, who I feel has guided a 
newspaper dedicated to finding the facts and telling the truth.
  I think Don would find Washington journalists quite different from 
the type of reporter and editor found in northeastern Wisconsin. In 
Wisconsin, we remain optimistic about the future. In Appleton, people 
work together to solve problems in the community and preserve a quality 
of life we see disappearing in this country. I believe the Post-
Crescent continues to fulfill its duty of bringing people the good news 
as well as the bad. In Washington and across America, this is too 
seldom the case. Too often, newspapers forget the positive role they 
can play in their communities.
  In addition to its superior local reporting, the Post-Crescent under 
Don's direction has consistently provided fair and balanced coverage of 
Congress. Over the years, I have placed great value in my honest and 
candid relationship with the Post-Crescent, its fine editorial staff 
and talented reporters. I credit Don, and thank him, for building and 
sustaining this important forum for out community and its people.
  I am sure Don is looking forward to spending more time with his wife 
of 39 years, Lila, his son, and three daughters. I wish to congratulate 
Don Kampfer, once again, on a well-deserved retirement and wish him 
many blessings and continued success in his future endeavors.


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