Saying goodbye to Bill Carlson
Posted on March 6th, 2008 – 8:26 PMBy Neal Justin
To be honest, Bill Carlson wasn’t really my type of journalist. He came from a different generation with a different style that I found all too folksy, too soft, too cozy.
Bill Carlson, however, was my type of man. I can’t pretend that I knew him terribly well, but I had enough encounters with him and know enough cynical media folks that loved the guy to realize that this was one of the warmest, most decent guys to ever walk the streets of the Twin Cities, let alone get behind an anchor desk.
All that was reiterated Thursday at the State Theatre, where more than 800 people showed up to pay tribute to the man. There’s a story in Friday’s paper, but I thought I’d share a few details that didn’t get in print - and invite you all to share your own thoughts about the man and why he was so beloved.
*Longtime Milwaukee movie critic Gino Salomone, who flew in for the event, said Carlson was the master. “There wasn’t anyone who didn’t like Bill,” he told me in the lobby. “I told Josh Hartnett the other day that Bill was not well and Josh said, ‘I really like that guy.’”
* Charlie Boone, one of the event’s first speakers, is in great voice. He joked that there were so many people at the Old Log Theatre Wednesday night for the visitation he thought they were doing a Boone & Erickson show. Boone also shared the fact that Carlson used to play accordion in a polka band. What we wouldn’t give for YouTube back then!
* Pat Miles read a poem called “Tribute” which Bil and Nancy read to each other at their wedding.
*Sister Judy Swanson said Bill’s love for animals went all the way back to his childhood, when they grew up across from the State Fairgrounds. His first pet: Tommy, the White Rat. She also said Bill was once a member of the St. Paul Clowns Club. Again: YouTube!!
* When it’s time for my funeral, I hope someone can convince Don Shelby to speak. The man knows how to pay tribute. He told a great story about working with Carlson one weekend when a Pope died in 1978. Pope Paul had only been ruling for a few months and Selby, in his own words, was a bit ornery that night. After Carlson did the weather, Selby quipped: “You knew the Pope, right Bill?” Carlson answered back without hesitation: “No Don, not this one. But Pope John XXIII and I were pretty close.” Selby ended his testimonial with the poem “The Pasture” by Robert Frost.
Please add on your own thoughts about a man who will truly be missed.
2 Responses to "Saying goodbye to Bill Carlson"
To be honest, Bill Carlson wasn’t really my type of journalist. He came from a different generation with a different style that I found all too folksy, too soft, too cozy.
Yes Neal, it’s much better to listen to Nick Coleman, The Old Scout, CJ, and Syl Jones. Now there’s talent.
My wife and I were returning from Europe in late September 1973. We were at O’Hare airport in Chicago frantically looking for the gate to catch a flight home at about 3 am. We saw Bill and Nancy waiting for the same flight. “Ah,” I said, “This must be the place”
Bill laughed and welcomed us.
