Butler Eagle publisher retiring
April will mark the end of an era at the Butler Eagle.
Ron Vodenichar, who has served at the helm of the family-owned newspaper since the fall of the Berlin Wall, has decided to retire and move to Georgetown, Texas, with his wife of 46 years, Linda.
Vodenichar started his new job as the Eagle’s assistant general manager on Oct. 16, 1989, but his first job in the newspaper industry began in January 1978 at the Herald-Star newspaper in Steubenville, Ohio.
Vodenichar was promoted to general manager at the Eagle in 1999 and publisher in 2010. He was named president of the board at the Eagle in 2019, and will retain that title after his retirement.
In 2001, the Wise family, which has owned the newspaper for 150 years, purchased a Goss Uniliner offset web press, which was ahead of its time in the printing industry.
“At that time, we decided we either had to be a printer that prints the newspaper and other products, or we had to be printed somewhere else,” Vodenichar said.
Since the arrival of the modern printing press, the Eagle’s production center on West Wayne Street has printed the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Pittsburgh Tribune-Review; Erie Times; Indiana Gazette; Leader Times in Armstrong County; newspapers from Warren and Youngstown, Ohio; plus multiple weekly and monthly products, including many college newspapers.
“We owe a lot of our survival to the fact that we made that decision, and it was putting in the press in 2001 that enabled us to do that work,” Vodenichar said.
Regarding achievements during his long tenure at the Eagle, Vodenichar looks into the void once occupied by community newspapers in the region.
“The main thing is we’re still here,” he said. “We’ve outlived all other family-owned newspapers in Western Pennsylvania.”
Vodenichar also has appreciated watching the newspaper’s impact on its readers, as many have decided to participate in a community activity or charitable endeavor after reading an announcement or article in the Eagle.
He hopes those looking for the “real” news will continue to seek out the Eagle’s print or digital products, and not rely on social media account holders who proclaim themselves media outlets.
“We are the only one that is a legitimate news source,” Vodenichar said.
The boss has witnessed many changes in 37 years at the Eagle.
“Everything now is much more automated and digital,” Vodenichar said. “Up until about 10 years ago, the news was on a 24-hour cycle. Now it’s a 10-minute cycle.”
Since his arrival in Butler in 1989, Vodenichar has wholeheartedly embraced the Butler community in addition to taking on his duties at the Eagle.
Vodenichar has served as a board member for multiple entities, including the Rotary Club of Butler, where he served three terms as president; the Butler County Chamber of Commerce; Butler YMCA; United Way of Butler County, including a term as chairman; American Heart Association and the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.
He is a founding member of the Butler Golden Tornado Scholarship Foundation, has served as master of ceremonies for the Butler Spirit of Christmas Parade and moderator for political debates between state and local candidates of both parties.
Vodenichar’s diligence in the community has earned him the Butler County Distinguished Service Award and the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award.
Both the Butler Senior High School varsity cheerleaders and varsity girls basketball team have honored Vodenichar with commemorative brick pavers for his support.
Vodenichar has performed with the Butler Musical Theater Guild and the Butler County Musicians Choir, and is a member of the Butler Country Club’s Mens Golf Association.
He and Linda have four daughters and 13 grandchildren.
Vodenichar’s first management position in the newspaper industry was circulation director in 1979 at a publication in Lancaster, Ohio.
He returned to Steubenville to serve as circulation director from 1980 to 1983.
Vodenichar was named corporate circulation director at Thomson Newspapers Inc. from 1983 to 1986 before moving to the position of publisher at Ada Evening News in Ada, Okla., from 1986 to 1989.
Tammy Schuey, Eagle general manager, rose to her position under Vodenichar’s tutelage and guidance after starting out in the company’s information technology department many years ago.
She said Vodenichar has the uncanny ability to spy the leadership qualities in seemingly ordinary people.
“Personally, he has been one of the most important mentors in my life, and I know I’m not alone,” Schuey said.
She values Vodenichar’s straightforward style, whether managing employees or serving the community.
“You can always count on him for an honest opinion,” Schuey said.
She also remains in awe of Vodenichar’s unfailing and energetic support of local journalism and the newspaper industry throughout his career at the Eagle.
Schuey hopes her longtime boss has a happy and relaxing retirement after nearly 40 years running a busy company, and that he enjoys watching his 13 grandchildren grow.
“My wish for Ron is that he gets to play golf every day,” Schuey said. “And I hope he is always a phone call away when we need advice.”
She said there is no way to properly thank Vodenichar for his amazing contribution to Eagle Printing and to the community at large.
“He has left a lasting impression,” Schuey said.
Vodenichar said his last day will be sometime around the end of March.
“Then I’m going to golf and visit grandkids,” he said.
