Eric Bernsee honored as 2016 Chamber Citizen of the Year

Sunday, January 29, 2017
Greeted by a standing ovation and the sounds of "Hail to the Chief," Banner Graphic Editor Eric Bernsee reports to the stage to accept his 2016 Citizen of the Year Award from Chamber President Amy Trusty.
Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

He’s written millions of words in these very pages for 35 years, all of them in service of his adopted hometown.

Yet when the news broke Saturday evening that he is the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce 2016 Citizen of the Year, veteran Banner Graphic Editor Eric Bernsee had no words to properly praise himself.

“You must be running out of good candidates,” Bernsee opined in his acceptance speech to the crowd at the Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner.

To the applause of the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce annual dinner, Banner Graphic Editor Eric Bernsee accepts his 2016 Citizen of the Year award from Chamber President Amy Trusty.
Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Eric Bernsee was at a loss for words. Ironic, yes, but also fitting for the man praised by Chamber President Amy Trusty as “a person who puts the community above (his) personal needs.”

True to form, Bernsee used the opportunity to put the focus on the community and industry to which he has devoted his adult life.

“I’m not sure how many of you are aware of how fortunate you are to have a daily newspaper in your community this small,” Bernsee said, “because many don’t have it, they have a weekly. My daughter lives down in southern Indiana and she’s always like, ‘Dad, can you come down and run the newspaper and make it a better newspaper?’ because they just have a weekly.”

“It stinks!” daughter Nicole (Bernsee) Bullard interjected from where she was waiting in the wings with sisters Kara (Bernsee) Wolf and Emily (Lowe) Goldman.

That was the moment when the proud papa noticed the unexpected guests approaching the stage, the icing on the cake to a surprising and overwhelming evening.

Making a surprise visit to their hometown, Kara Wolf, Nicole Bullard and Emily Goldman listen with delight as their dad, Eric Bernsee, accepts the 2016 Citizen of the Year Award.
Banner Graphic/NICOLE JERNAGAN

For a man always in the know of local happenings, it was something of a minor miracle that the big night arrived without him having a clue.

It took a concerted letter-writing campaign from various community members, driven not only by the belief that Bernsee deserves the honor but also by disbelief that he hasn’t already been Citizen of the Year, an oft-repeated remark on Saturday.

The surprise also required planning and secrecy, the co-conspirators including Chamber executives and board members, daughters, girlfriend Cammie Goldman and co-workers, among others.

Banner Graphic/NICOLE JERNAGAN

It wasn’t until Trusty dropped the tell-tale hint of “all in a ‘Daze Work,’” a reference to Bernsee’s long-running column, that a befuddled and slightly embarrassed look came over the editor’s face.

At that point, Bernsee set aside his ever-present notebook, knowing he would be the subject, not the reporter, on this assignment.

Instead, it was time to listen to the comments Trusty read from various nomination letters the Chamber received.

Banner Graphic/NICOLE JERNAGAN

“His reporting is fair and honest and avoids the sensationalism of other news outlets,” one person wrote. “As a fair and positive newspaper, the Banner Graphic has played an important role in our community growth and positive outlook.”

“He seemingly knows that capturing moments in time and recording them really means something,” another wrote.

Another paid high compliments, calling Bernsee “a gifted writer, a most dedicated reporter and a great friend to the people of Greencastle and all of Putnam County.”

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Finally reporting to the stage to a standing ovation and the sounds of “Hail to the Chief,” Bernsee recalled how there is generally newsroom chatter about who will win Citizen of the Year, a topic that was largely avoided this year.

“I certainly never saw this coming,” Bernsee said. “But you know it makes my work day tomorrow rather easy because I don’t have to write this story.

“May not even put it the paper,” he added with a laugh before quickly waving off the idea.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Bernsee then turned the subject to the Banner Graphic team at large.

“I certainly appreciate this. It’s a validation for the things we do,” Bernsee said. “We’re in there putting up the good fight every day, trying to get the information so you’ll all know, running into roadblocks sometimes but we keep at it.”

And Bernsee has kept at it. A native of Chicago and graduate of the University of Missouri, Bernsee was a sports reporter and editor for newspapers in Bloomington and Richmond, Va., before coming to Greencastle in 1975.

He spent nearly 30 years as Banner Graphic editor before seven years as the communications and public relations director at Fillmore-based Dixie Chopper.

He returned to the Banner in March 2011, an event remembered fondly by one well-wisher on Saturday.

“When you came back to the newspaper, it made it worth taking again,” Bob Jedele told Bernsee.

Standing nearby, City Councilman Dave Murray agreed.

“You’ve been the voice of Greencastle for a long time,” Murray said.

It’s an opinion shared by Banner Graphic publisher Chris Pruett, who said the newspaper and community are fortunate to have Bernsee.

“Eric is a walking encyclopedia, or should I say Wikipedia page, of Putnam County,” Pruett said. “If you need to know something about the area, Eric is the guy to turn to.”

Pruett went on to say how important Bernsee is to the Banner Graphic.

“Eric is the type of editor all newspapers would love to have working in their newsrooms. He’s dedicated, loyal, and goes above and beyond to produce the best possible paper,” Pruett said. “He’s been with the paper 35 years, and he’s put a lot of papers to bed. The most important one to him is the one he’s working on at the time.”

General Manager Daryl Taylor echoed these sentiments.

“Eric takes pride in knowing that every story he writes or approves,” Taylor said, “whether it be for our print or our online editions, is accurate and factual and understands just what this small-town newspaper means to our community.”

Both men expressed their gratitude at Bernsee being recognized.

“The Banner Graphic is happy for Eric,” Taylor said, “and I personally want to congratulate Eric and express my gratitude that he was recognized for what he means to this community.”

“Thanks to the Chamber for honoring Eric and all he does for the community," Pruett said. "The Banner supports the Chamber and its many activities, and we believe for our area to prosper all businesses need to help each other and work together.”

All of the accolades aside, for Bernsee the moment was another opportunity for the self-deprecating humor that has graced his column all these years.

“At the risk of overdoing the Sally Field thing, ‘Gosh, you like me, you really like me.’”

Read about the Business of the Year and Non-Profit of the Year winners.

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  • Congrats Eric!!

    -- Posted by kbmom on Mon, Jan 30, 2017, at 3:16 AM
  • Many congratulations Eric

    -- Posted by Nit on Mon, Jan 30, 2017, at 7:20 AM
  • Congratulations Eric. You certainly deserve this great award and honor. It is so nice to see you again even though it is by pictures and not in person. Karen and I are very happy for you and your accomplishments. Maybe we can get together at The Office someday. Best to you, Larry Arthur, Bloomington, IN..

    -- Posted by Office Lounge on Tue, Jan 31, 2017, at 4:45 PM
  • Way to go Chamber, great choice

    -- Posted by talkymom3 on Tue, Jan 31, 2017, at 5:50 PM
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