Resignation brings end to long newspaper career

Northwest Boomer and Senior News – Salem, OR.

From the time she was a teenage proof carrier for the Salem daily newspapers, Trude Crow McMillin has been involved with all aspects of newspaper publishing.  Now, she is hanging up that hat for retirement with her husband, Craig, on 2-1/2 acres east of Salem, where there are many projects she’s eager to begin. She doesn’t use the word retirement. “I quit. Old people retire,” she says with a grin. Trude, who has been editor of NW Boomer & Senior News for 13-1/2 years, is turning that job over to Michelle Te.

Trude, the late Bob Schoenkopf, Pam Cooley and Ron Houck came to Eagle officials in 1999 with the remains of what was once a thriving Senior News Monthly.  It had been purchased by a group from California in 1995, and by the time they left in 1998 the newspaper was in shambles.  The team knew their talents and a proven client base—advertisers and readers—needed new direction and backing. The rest is history. Pam remains on the NWBoomer & Senior News staff, which now is headed by David Thouvenel.

The proof carrier for the Salem dailies was 19 when she went on to do ad sales, becoming the youngest salesperson ever. She also did copy writing and dummies for the newspapers while attending college.  After her first marriage, the couple went on to own weekly newspapers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. At other points in her life, Trude worked at the Seattle Times and the Oregonian.

Trude anticipates trading time on-the-job for more time with her daughters and grandson.