[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 11929]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             TRIBUTE TO JIM COLLINS--50 YEARS IN JOURNALISM

 Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Mr. Jim Collins, editor of the Willoughby, Ohio, News-Herald newspaper 
on the occasion of his 50 years in journalism.
  From an early age, Jim had newspaper ink flowing through his veins. 
By the time he was 12, he was working as a paper boy for the News-
Herald, delivering the twice-weekly paper to homes all over town. It's 
hard to imagine today, but subscribers paid just six cents a week for 
the News-Herald back in 1941.
  After graduating from Kent State University in 1950, Jim was hired as 
a full-time reporter for the News-Herald. He served in this capacity 
until 1952, when Jim answered the call of his government and served a 
two-year tour of duty in the Army.
  When Jim returned to Willoughby, he resumed his duty as a reporter 
for the News-Herald until 1959. That year, the News-Herald's owners 
asked Jim to manage two other papers that they owned, the Parma News 
and the Brooklyn News. Jim became the one-person operation for both 
papers for 15 months whereupon he returned to the News-Herald.
  By 1967, Jim had worked his way up to become editor of the newspaper. 
In fact, throughout his tenure with the News-Herald, Jim has held a 
variety of editorial positions including assistant editor, city editor, 
managing editor and executive editor.
  All throughout his career, Jim has accumulated a number of well-
deserved awards, including the Associated Press of Ohio's first place 
award for commentary in 1982, the first place award for column writing 
in 1991, and the first place award for editorial commentary just two 
years ago. Jim has also been named the 1987 Willoughby Chamber of 
Commerce's Distinguished Citizen of the Year and received the Lake 
Parks Foundation award in 1994.
  I have always said that the measure of a person can be determined by 
the work he or she does individually, or through the organizations to 
which he or she belongs, that benefit others. Jim has given of himself 
to numerous organizations having served as the chairman of the West 
End-YMCA board of managers and president of the Lake County YMCA. He is 
also a member of the Willoughby Rotary Club, Willoughby School of Fine 
Arts, the Lake County Blue Coats, the Willoughby Jaycees and several 
area chambers of commerce. Jim is also the first person to become an 
honorary lifetime member of the Lake County Police Chiefs Association 
and is a member of the Cleveland Foundation Lake-Geauga Fund Committee.
  Jim is a true man of integrity, and it is his integrity that has 
earned him the respect of journalists and politicians across the state. 
He can be brutally honest, but he is always fair and he is never afraid 
to tell the truth. It is his character that has allowed him to remain 
in journalism for five decades.
  Throughout his years with the News-Herald, he has worked to put 
together one of the most competitive papers in northeastern Ohio. Jim 
provides his readers a broader level of reporting than most regional 
papers, paying attention not only to local news, but to state and 
national news as well. Because of his leadership, circulation has 
grown. In addition, Jim's initiative has allowed for the creation of a 
forum for candidates--in conjunction with Lakeland Community College--
that makes available to the public where candidates stand on particular 
issues.
  While some may think that 50 years in the newspaper business is 
enough for any person, Jim is not slowing down and is by no means even 
close to retiring. That's good news, because I would have a very hard 
time imagining the News-Herald without Jim. I have enjoyed working with 
Jim and I look forward to working with him for many more years to come.
  Mr. President, Jim Collins has been a real friend to me in all the 
years that I have known him. He has been an inspiration to me and so 
many others throughout his life and his career. I congratulate him for 
his dedication to the citizens of Ohio and for his 50 years of 
accomplishments in journalism. He has much to be proud of, and I 
consider myself very lucky to know him. I wish him many more years of 
success.
  Thank you, Mr. President.

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