Former Times editor dies at 78
Bill Terry, 78, one of the founders of the Arkansas Times and its editor for many years, died today in St. Louis of complications from cancer.
In 1974, Terry, who had recently been fired from the Arkansas Democrat, and Times founder Alan Leveritt, who had recently been fired from the Arkansas Gazette, found each other just in time to save the foundering Union Station Times (later renamed Arkansas Times). Terry took over as editor and Leveritt became the ad salesman resulting in a great improvement in both editorial quality and ad income.
(You need to know, before you continue, that this is Alan's own account.)
Terry continued irascibly as editor of the Times for nine years, attracting some of the best writers in Arkansas both as freelancers and staff members. He was mercurial, loyal, loving and a tad superstitious. He had his "lucky bed" at home where he would retire during especially close Razorback games, convinced that by lying there, he was giving the Hogs some kind of psychic lift to victory.
Terry was financially very conservative, but the Times had no working capital and periodically had to "bet the company" in an effort to get circulation or improve the visual quality. When the Times sent out 100,000 direct mail subscription solicitations with no hope of paying for it if it did not get a good response, Terry couldn’t stand it. He checked into a motel in Hazen to await the worst. He called into the office that morning to learn that we had received several thousand subscriptions and we would all have a job the next day.
The Times struggled for the first four or five years, trying to find its voice and its ad base. Then in 1978 Terry began a year-long series on organized crime and police corruption and misconduct that resulted in a number of death threats to Terry. Events culminated in an arson that destroyed the company’s headquarters -- at the time on Second Street.
During that time he confided to staff members that he was very frightened but he had developed excellent sources and kept returning to his subject editorially. It was during this period that the Times began to be noticed and taken seriously within the community.
Longtime staff members have always seen that series of stories as a watershed in the publication’s development, even though the arson almost destroyed the company.
Terry retired in 1983, moving to the Berryville area where he wrote novels and coached and played baseball with men and boys a half century younger than himself. Last week he remarked to a friend, while informing him of the dire state of his health, that six weeks earlier he had hit a hundred baseballs during practice.
He’ll be missed by all of us, his old staff members, his children and his extended family.
Comments
Met him briefly during my time as photo-jounalist (they called us photographers then) when I worked for the Pine Bluff Commercial. Seemed like a nice person.
Condolences to the family.
Posted by: Roger![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 23, 2009 05:54 PM
Thank you Bill Terry (and Alan) for a wonderful idea and making it happen. R.I.P.
Posted by: eLwood![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 23, 2009 06:51 PM
I'm raising a toast to Bill Terry, one of the fathers of truly independent publishing and journalism in Arkansas and a toast to the Arkansas Times for surviving and maintaining his courage and vision and devotion to truth.
Posted by: mag![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 23, 2009 10:03 PM
Bill Terry was both a great character and a loyal friend, generous of spirit. I recall driving down Kavanaugh Blvd. one afternoon to be greeted by the sight of Bill gathering twigs near the roadside. I stopped to see if he needed help -- turns out he had determined that bundles of kindling would make good holiday gifts for his friends. It still stings a little that I never got one.
Thirty years and more ago, we spent many hours talking about policemen and criminals. He was wise to be afraid.
Terry and Leveritt created a place where the best of the True Believers can do their work. They didn't invent anything; they preserved something of great importance -- a real newspaper. Maybe not the last of its kind in the world, but the only one we have in these parts. It outlived Bill; I hope like Hell it outlives us all.
Posted by: Bill Williams![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 23, 2009 10:25 PM