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Former News-Review Publisher Phil Neiswanger is flanked by three of his four children, from left, Andrea, Jennifer and Ted, after being named to the Oregon Newspaper Hall of Fame
REDMOND — Former News-Review Publisher Phillip Neiswanger has been inducted into the Oregon Newspaper Hall of Fame.
Neiswanger's induction was a surprise to him during an awards banquet at the Summer Publishers Convention of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, held Thursday night at Eagle Crest Resort.
“It's certainly an honor, one that I appreciate,” said Neiswanger. “I've always felt that when your peers recognize what you've done, it's really special.”
Neiswanger was editor and publisher of The News-Review from 1974 to 1993. He was recognized for outstanding service to the newspaper industry and his community.
The Oregon Newspaper Hall of Fame is on permanent display at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
While Neiswanger was seated at a table facing the speaker at Thursday's banquet, members of his family slipped into the room behind him so they could see him honored and add an additional surprise.
“I was caught by surprise,” Neiswanger admitted, both of the hall of fame announcement and the presence of three of his four grown children. “Matter of fact, I think I was tongue tied. I'm not sure what I said, but it was a great evening.”
Neiswanger, who continues to make his home in Roseburg, started his career in journalism as a reporter for the Idaho Statesman in Boise. The native of St. Louis had received a journalism degree from Idaho State University in Pocatello in 1953.
He would go on to work for the Idaho State Journal, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the Herald and News of Klamath Falls, the Modesto Bee and the Napa Valley Register.
After retiring from The News-Review, he was an interim publisher at the Nevada Appeal. He served on the board of directors of Swift Communications, which owns The News-Review, for 18 years before retiring in 2006.
Neiswanger has been a president and board member of ONPA and won its Presidents Award. In 1984, he was named Roseburg First Citizen.
His list of community accomplishments is extensive. He has been a board member, campaign chairman and president of the Greater Douglas United Way. He has been president and a board member of the Community Cancer Foundation of Roseburg, the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Roseburg Kiwanis.
He also served on boards of Umpqua Community Development Corp., Douglas County Library Foundation and Umpqua Community College Foundation, among others.
He's currently working on the 150th anniversary committee of the United Methodist Church.
“I think the award is based on what a person accomplished in the newspaper business and what he contributed to the community ... a combination of those two things,” Neiswanger said. “I always felt a newspaper should be a citizen of the community, be a leader in the community, so I had an obligation to be involved. It was good for me, it broaden my horizons, I grew as a result.
“Those 20 years (at The News-Review were some of the best of my life,” he added. “I met some wonderful people, both in The News-Review and outside. I saw a lot of young people develop on the job. It was a rewarding experience.”
Neiswanger and his wife, Myrna, had been married for 46 years when she died in 1998. Their family includes four grown children and several grandchildren, including two sets of twins.
Neiswanger's induction was a surprise to him during an awards banquet at the Summer Publishers Convention of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, held Thursday night at Eagle Crest Resort.
“It's certainly an honor, one that I appreciate,” said Neiswanger. “I've always felt that when your peers recognize what you've done, it's really special.”
Neiswanger was editor and publisher of The News-Review from 1974 to 1993. He was recognized for outstanding service to the newspaper industry and his community.
The Oregon Newspaper Hall of Fame is on permanent display at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
While Neiswanger was seated at a table facing the speaker at Thursday's banquet, members of his family slipped into the room behind him so they could see him honored and add an additional surprise.
“I was caught by surprise,” Neiswanger admitted, both of the hall of fame announcement and the presence of three of his four grown children. “Matter of fact, I think I was tongue tied. I'm not sure what I said, but it was a great evening.”
Neiswanger, who continues to make his home in Roseburg, started his career in journalism as a reporter for the Idaho Statesman in Boise. The native of St. Louis had received a journalism degree from Idaho State University in Pocatello in 1953.
He would go on to work for the Idaho State Journal, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the Herald and News of Klamath Falls, the Modesto Bee and the Napa Valley Register.
After retiring from The News-Review, he was an interim publisher at the Nevada Appeal. He served on the board of directors of Swift Communications, which owns The News-Review, for 18 years before retiring in 2006.
Neiswanger has been a president and board member of ONPA and won its Presidents Award. In 1984, he was named Roseburg First Citizen.
His list of community accomplishments is extensive. He has been a board member, campaign chairman and president of the Greater Douglas United Way. He has been president and a board member of the Community Cancer Foundation of Roseburg, the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Roseburg Kiwanis.
He also served on boards of Umpqua Community Development Corp., Douglas County Library Foundation and Umpqua Community College Foundation, among others.
He's currently working on the 150th anniversary committee of the United Methodist Church.
“I think the award is based on what a person accomplished in the newspaper business and what he contributed to the community ... a combination of those two things,” Neiswanger said. “I always felt a newspaper should be a citizen of the community, be a leader in the community, so I had an obligation to be involved. It was good for me, it broaden my horizons, I grew as a result.
“Those 20 years (at The News-Review were some of the best of my life,” he added. “I met some wonderful people, both in The News-Review and outside. I saw a lot of young people develop on the job. It was a rewarding experience.”
Neiswanger and his wife, Myrna, had been married for 46 years when she died in 1998. Their family includes four grown children and several grandchildren, including two sets of twins.
