A legacy of lifting people via opportunity

The last time I spoke to Duane Hagadone was in September 2020. He called on a Wednesday morning after he’d read my column in The Coeur d’Alene Press. I’d retold the story of his mother going into labor on Labor Day while his parents were picnicking at Silver Beach and wished him a happy 88th birthday. I also expressed my appreciation for the opportunities he’d provided to me.

His once booming voice was a little less last year. As we chatted I was touched by this larger-than-life man taking time to make a personal and sentimental phone call to a columnist. I told him I was grateful for the call because it was a chance for me to tell him how much his belief in me back in 1986, when I took a part-time job in the classified department of The Press, had impacted my life. I worked hard and was promoted to account executive a year or so later.

Each year we’d have annual interviews with the publisher, a few of those times with Duane himself. Each time when asked where I saw myself with the company in five years my answer was the same … I wanted to be publisher of the Post Falls Tribune because the community and the company deserved a better product.

In the era of the hoopla surrounding the opening of The Coeur d’Alene, a Resort on the Lake, (yes, that was the original moniker) there was no small amount of sibling rivalry between the Communications and Hospitality Divisions. The news side was used to having Duane’s attention. He was in The Press office almost daily, making the walk across the street from the corporate office just to check in and talk with us during the work day. When his attention was focused on the ambitious creation and promotion of a world class resort we missed his presence.

Duane Hagadone was in his early 50s when I came onboard The Coeur d’Alene Press staff and absolutely in the prime of his life. While there’s no question to me that printer’s ink ran through his veins, the Resort and the floating green were a passion he embraced fully. He had fulfilled his late father’s legacy and promise with the newspaper group but the hospitality side was close to his heart and would be his own legacy.

In 1990, 4.5 years into my five-year stated goal, I became publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. I recall vividly the first annual publishers’ meeting with Duane and publishers from all of the company’s newspapers around the country in attendance. I was the only woman in the room, the first woman to hold the position of publisher in the Hagadone Newspaper Division. At the Press, Kiki Miller was Circulation Director and Gretchen Berning was Executive Editor, the first women to hold those positions, as well.

Much has been and will be written about Duane Hagadone, a most fascinating and complex man. I have so many anecdotes and memories of opportunities and lessons learned that have all rushed in since hearing of his death over the weekend. I’m writing this column at the beautiful desk that was once in my office at the Tribune 30 years ago, a gift from the company when the Tribune closed in 2001.

Duane had many admirable qualities but in a nutshell, he made me feel seen. As a classified ad sales rep, an account executive, as a publisher/editor and now for decades as a contracted columnist, the man made me feel valued as a person and part of the company family.

I’m genuinely sad that he’s no longer with us. I’m genuinely grateful that he once was.

God speed, Mr. Hagadone.

Happy birthday today to Tootie Reynolds, Martin Teall, Linette Freeman, Sue Barnard, Beth Bollinger, Barb Forgacs, Star Hart, Corinna Whiting, Jana Pool, Kristina Lallatin, Caitlin Rielly and Larry Locke. On April 29 Steve Wilson, Tanner Mort, Chris Cooper, Stephanie Brodwater, Jeremy Jones, Patty Muhlhauser and Susan O’Neill make a wish. Bailey Jaworski, Michele Jensen, Amy Lyons, Christina Bollman, Keith Ekness, Luke Griffin, Louise Zimmerman and Jai Nelson will party on the last day of April.

Celebrating on the first day of May are Marlee Eldridge, Jeri DeLange, Suanne Harris and Diane Duncan. On May 2 Becca Atkinson (Sweet 16!), John DeLuca, Jan Bryant, Miranda Hamilton, Tre Lewis and Randy Hurt will blow out the candles.

On Monday Randy Bates, Tracy Flaa, Peter Willits, John Hayes, Robbie Canfield, Brooke Harris and Becky Camarata are putting on their party hats. On Tuesday Kay Poland, Kenley Link, Jeanette Bangs, Garrett Brown, Scott Hayden, Rand Wichman, Brittany Smith and Scott Jacobson take another trip around the sun.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.