BUSINESS PERSONNEL: REPPERT BROTHERS HAVE KEY ROLE IN NNA MEETING

Brothers John Reppert and Jerry Reppert played key roles the recent National Newspaper Association (NNA) Government Affairs Conference, which featured addresses by President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and other legislators and cabinet members. The conference was held in Washington, D.C.

Jerry Reppert, of Anna, Ill., publisher of The Gazette-Democrat, was the featured speaker at the conference luncheon. He is chairman for government relations for NNA and serves on the organization's board of directors. His topic was current government policy issues related to the newspaper industry. Reppert spoke after President George W. Bush addressed the group.

John Reppert, a former Anna resident, introduced Secretary of State Powell to the conference. Reppert and Powell are former U.S. Army generals who had served together. Reppert, who served 33 years, is now executive director for the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University.