MILLIE WALLHAUSEN: THOROUGHLY UP TO DATE

CHARLESTON -- She's a thoroughly modern Millie. The 83-year-old journalist can use a computer like a pro and writes a column on pressing issues every week. Mildred (Millie) Carolyn Wallhausen keeps on going. For 64 years the newspaper business has been her love and passion. And she is not stopping yet.

This month Wallhausen was honored by the press association as the first receipt of the Mildred Wallhausen Friend of SEMO Press Award. The award is displayed proudly in her office at the Enterprise-Courier, where the seasoned journalist is still publisher.

Wallhausen entered the field of journalism in 1933. Her passion for journalism was truly love at first sight. After graduating from Brown's Business College in 1932, Wallhausen moved from her home in New York state to live with her aunt and uncle in Poplar Bluff. While typing menus at a local restaurant, "to keep up my typing speed," Wallhausen said the star of the local paper swept her off her feet.

"I was typing one day and the star reporter of the Daily American Republic, Arthur (Art) Wallhausen came in," she said. "I was just getting over an unhappy love affair and really was not interested in a new one." A friend told her not to get interested in Art because he was practically engaged to the newspaper owner's daughter. "But the next Sunday Art asked to be introduced to me."

After she met her future husband, Wallhausen began her life-long career. "I was asked to work on the progress edition; I was to work two weeks. But the newspaper owner's older daughter had a baby and was not returning to work, so I stayed." At 21, she plunged herself into her work.

In 1936 she and Art were married. That year they took a big step and bought Charleston's Enterprise-Courier newspaper. After moving to Charleston, Wallhausen's energy took flight. While writing for and running the paper she raised her son Art Jr. and daughter Elizabeth. Over the years she became heavily involved in her community and currently still belongs to many organizations.

Wallhausen said Art exemplified hard work and perseverance for her. "My husband was ill for over 14 years. We both still were working at the paper. My husband wrote his editorials from his bed. He had grit and determination." Art Wallhausen died in 1969.

For over 60 years Wallhausen has been a active member of the SEMO Press Association. She is past-president and is the association's historian, a job she is very proud of. "The SEMO press history includes not only the history of the many newspapers in our area but the district, state, national and world events revolving around them," she said.

Recording history is vital to future generations, Wallhausen said. She said they need to know what is was like "then". She writes: "World War II was a time that tried the souls of not only those in service but those trying to hold the home front together. To this day I can't pass up a paper clip or rubber band on the floor! I have to pick them up. There were little or no supplies -- paper, ink, film. Workers mostly went into service. Even our circulation lady went to St. Louis to a defense plant. Most editors had to write news, work on war bond drives, sell ads, work on scrap drives, collect the money to meet expenses, etc. We worked around the clock."

Four generations of Wallhausens have been involved in the newspaper business. Wallhausen and her late husband encouraged her parents to move to Missouri from New York and buy the East Prairie Eagle. Daughter Elizabeth Anderson and her husband James currently own and operate the Enterprise-Courier. Wallhausen's grandchildren have even helped with the daily duties at the paper. She said working with these young people has kept her youthful. "I've never had a generation gap; I don't know what's wrong with me," she said.

Wallhausen continues to write "Millie's Soap Box," an editorial column each week. She said she tries to instill some of her values through her writing. "I don't preach. I just want people to know where I stand," she said. "I'm real opinionated."