NORMAL — Community leader and long-time Pantagraph employee Bill Hertter died Tuesday afternoon. (January 1, 2013)
He was found unresponsive Tuesday outside his Normal residence, where he had been shoveling snow, and was pronounced dead at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center at about 4:15 p.m., said McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling. She said an autopsy will take place Thursday afternoon.
The 70-year-old had retired from the Pantagraph as director of circulation in 2007 after a 43-year career there.
He also served as president of the board of directors of the Joy Care Center, a faith-based outreach program for ex-offenders, and has been involved in several other civic groups including the United Way of McLean County, Home Sweet Home Ministries, the McLean County chapter of the American Red Cross and the Occupational Development Center.
“Bill had a long and distinguished career at the Pantagraph. He set the gold standard for circulation directors,” said Barry Winterland, Pantagraph general manager and regional finance director. “He lived and breathed The Pantagraph every day for 43 years, and he served The Pantagraph and the community very well.”
Hertter was a Carbondale native and a Bloomington High School graduate. He attended Illinois State University and in 1964 began work in the Pantagraph’s circulation department. While there, he received numerous honors, including Central States Circulation Managers’ Association Circulation Executive of the Year and the Newspaper Association of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Circulation Management of Illinois created an annual award in his honor.
“A good man, good attitude, good worker and just a person who was good to be around,” said former Pantagraph publisher John Goldrick about Hertter. “More should be like him.”
Hertter is survived by his wife, Carol. They have four children: Doug, Sarah, Andrew and Rachel.