Editor’s Note: The following are memories shared by current and former employees and friends of Jack Faulkner.
Jack took me on at HPT, while I was still in college doing my practicum for my last semester. Through that process, he sat with me and worked with me on my writing. I remember his patience and kindness. After my semester ended, he asked me if I would consider working full time at the paper. For the last 23 years, I’ve done just that. He was a great man in my eyes, a great editor and friend. Afterall, he took a chance with me.
Gloria Austin
Sports Editor
Houlton Pioneer Times
Being one of the oldies of the crew at the Pioneer Times, I remember Jack well coming to our office early. We were learning the new computer system—truth is Jack didn’t know a lot about it but he liked us to think he did. He would put the fear of God in us! Jack was learning the same as we were! But we listened and we respected him. He was very proud of his family and spoke of them often.
I often marveled at his commitment to traveling everyday to his work in Presque Isle. I liked Jack and remember him vividly.
Lois Downing
Former Pioneer employee
Jack has been my friend for many years. I was hired by him in 1968 to be the manager of the advertising department at the Pioneer Times where we worked together for 25 years. He spent many years in Presque Isle as business manager of all papers.
Jack loved to “fish and hunt”. He never missed a chance to fish for salmon on the Mirramichi or go hunting with his buddies, which were many.
On a lighter note, one of his favorite things to do was be with a group of friends and have a “sing-a-long”. One of his favorite songs was “Danny Boy.” He will be missed.
Wendell Guy
Former Pioneer ad manager
Like many before me, I owe my start in newspapers to Jack Faulkner. It was Jack who gave me my first “real” job, in May of 1993. At that time, I was getting ready to graduate from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and had no clue what the future held for me. I applied for a job as a news reporter at The Star-Herald and it was Jack who conducted much of the interview.
With little experience, other than a few clippings from the one journalism course I took in college, it would have been easy to dismiss me as too inexperienced for such an important job as reporting on the news. But Jack took a chance on this young kid when others might not have and now, 17 years later, I still find myself in the business and I owe much of that to Jack.
At the time, I was hired as an intern making $5 an hour. I distinctly remember not wanting to disappoint this kind man who fit the mold of practically every news editor portrayed in televisions and movies. He could be cantankerous at times, but one thing remained constant, he was always fair and impartial.
Being in newspapers means we sometimes have to tell people that an article they submit is not really suitable for print. There are many ways one could address this matter, but Jack was a master at it. His response to people was always the same and it was so effective that I quickly jotted it down on a piece of paper. It’s a note that I still have in my collection of news clippings that I have accumulated over the many years in the business, and it is something I always think back.
His answer was simply, “We gave your submission editorial consideration; however it was pre-empted by more immediate local matters.”
Joseph Cyr
Sports Editor
Star-Herald/Aroostook Republican
The door would open and he would arrive with a smile — a hearty ‘Morning’ — and head straight for the coffee. With coffee in hand Mr. Faulkner, better known to all of us at the Pioneer as “Jack”, was ready for conversation.
The subject matter would range from local news to the latest scores in whatever team playing last night to — well you name it — Jack could discuss any topic with you.
He worked out of Presque Isle and we at Houlton only saw him on occasion. He would head on in to discuss many items of interest with Marshall, our editor.
Jack would cover Marshall [Hammond’s] vacation time and rarely did we miss a beat for he just let us do our jobs. He was proficient with the typewriter and certainly had a way with words.
I think what I most remember is his smile. Whenever he came through the front door the smile was there and would remain for the rest of the day.
Kaye Trickey
Former Pioneer Times
community editor/reporter
As my mentor and editor, Jack helped me develop as a newspaper journalist. Although many lessons were learned by “jumping headfirst into the fire,” he was always just a phone call or visit away and always made the time to listen, interpret and instruct. Although he was extremely busy managing four newspapers and an assortment of other affiliated publications, Jack was a “hands-on, roll up the shirtsleeves” type manager.
He truly worked “behind the scenes” for many years and his talent as a newsperson and especially community journalist is best witnessed through the ongoing accomplishments of those who were lucky enough to have worked under his guidance.
Mark Putnam
Managing Editor
Northeast Publishing Co.
