Thursday, October 08, 2009
Perkins remembered as veteran news reporter
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A 1951 graduate of Elberfeld High School, she attended Oakland City College. Perkins was a reporter for The Evansville Courier from 1960 to 1979, and she was the first reporter assigned to cover city government in Evansville's new Civic Center. In recognition of her excellence, she received a key to the City of Evansville from Mayor Frank F. McDonald, Sr. She was a valued member of the Courier's reporting team, supporting other reporters as they called breaking news stories in on the telephone, and assuring accuracy in facts and grammar. Perkins left the Courier to become press secretary to U.S. Representative H. Joel Deckard, serving until 1983. She also was a mayoral campaign coordinator for former City Councilman David A. Koehler. Sherrianne M. Standley, vice president emeritus for Advancement, hired Perkins in 1984. She said, "When Janice applied for the position in USI public relations, I felt so fortunate that we could attract someone of her caliber - a capable writer and editor who had worked in news-gathering, reporting, and public relations and who could bring a new dimension to our young staff. She was an integral part of building our department's commitment to excellence in communications - in terms of accuracy, grammar, and institutional message." Elizabeth Randolph, photojournalist in NIS, remembers working with Perkins on University Notes, the original USI employee newsletter. "Janice was always a sweetheart to me," she said. "We both had worked in the newspaper business and she was old school journalism all the way. She worked on hard deadlines, and if I was still in the darkroom printing her photos for University Notes, I would hear a knock on the door asking if I had those photos done yet. She offered good advice on my transition from the newspaper business to life as a university photographer and gave me good counsel on how to work with the people at USI." Kathy Funke, director of NIS, and Perkins were a team for eight years in the NIS office. Funke said, "Janice was a stickler for details and correct grammar. She offered valuable writing advice that I use to this day. She introduced me to writing using a computer. I had worked on an IBM Selectric typewriter when I left the workforce earlier. She was a one-of-a-kind special woman." There will be no visitation and graveside services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are by Browning Funeral Home. |
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