A tribute … and a thank you

There was a time when Hal Tanner Jr. was the most powerful man in Wayne County — military brass included.

As publisher of the Goldsboro News-Argus during the paper’s golden years, he managed the premier news outlet in eastern North Carolina in the days before corporate takeovers, layoffs and shrinking newsrooms shrouded the media industry in uncertainty.

Sadly, we lost Mr. Tanner Friday.

Many of you likely knew him — or, at the very least, of him — so it seems like a forgone conclusion that in the coming days, stories will be told and memories will be shared about the man whose Southern drawl, kind eyes, and fierce commitment to the future of journalism and his community will be shared by those he touched.

You might even overhear an anecdote at one of his favorite local restaurants, the Lantern Inn.

That’s what happens when a friend passes away. 

And Mr. Tanner had a lot of them.

Some will talk about his love of the outdoors — how hunting and fishing brought him so much joy.

Others will remember his love of family — how beyond his bloodline, he treated members of his staff like they were his own.

But there are things you probably won’t hear but should about the qualities we hope will help shape the legacy of a man who had a seemingly impossible job when he took over as publisher of the News-Argus — to live up to the example set by his father, Hal Tanner Sr., a champion for the community who never met a stranger and was, by the vast majority of accounts, universally loved.

So, what qualities beyond a deep love for family, respect for his employees, and an unrivaled commitment to his community should Hal Tanner Jr. be remembered for?

Let’s start with courage.

I remember driving to Goldsboro for a job interview shortly after graduating from North Carolina State University in 2005.

And when I walked into the News-Argus’ newsroom for the first time, it was clear when I was introduced to the editor-in-chief, that the man in charge had courage. Loads of it.

You see, the editor was a woman.

For those of you who doubt that it took courage for Mr. Tanner to hand the keys of the car, so to speak, to a woman, we would ask you to list the women who have successfully earned seats on the Goldsboro City Council, Wayne County Board of Commissioners, been elected mayor of any city or town in Wayne County, or held the title of city manager, police chief, sheriff, etc.

Now list the men.

What Mr. Tanner did was groundbreaking. 

And it was a hot topic around Wayne County watercoolers for the duration of my 10-year stint at the News-Argus. Some people even urged him to remove her — arguing that the paper would not be taken seriously if its editorial voice was that of a woman.

Mr. Tanner never wavered.

And under his and his editor’s leadership, the paper got back to winning awards — lots of them — and, many would argue, made a significant impact on the lives of local residents.

Beyond courage, Mr. Tanner was a true patriot.

He didn’t just salute the flag when eyes zeroed in on him at the various community events he attended. He fought to ensure Seymour Johnson Air Force Base remained in Wayne County because he understood it was in the best interest of the 4^thFighter Wing and the 916^thAir Refueling Wing to call this place home.

He worked, sometimes tirelessly, with other community leaders to keep Seymour thriving and growing.

He was an influencer here, in Raleigh — even in Washington, DC. — and was among those responsible for saving our base from closure.

He always made time to thank airmen for their service — and he really meant it.

Those weren’t just empty words. Not to Mr. Tanner.

But the quality that I will choose to remember has nothing to do with the community at large. It won’t be a part of his legacy for anyone but me.

It was the summer of 2009 and I was hours away from boarding a military aircraft bound for Afghanistan.

A few days earlier, an attack on the base I was heading to had left several people dead.

I played it cool in front of my co-workers as I walked the News-Argus halls one final time before my flight, but in reality, I was terrified. 

I thought I was going to be sick to my stomach, so I made my way toward the bathroom, but just before I got there, I heard that familiar Southern drawl.

“Come see me before you go, son,” Mr. Tanner said from the doorway of his office.

A few minutes later, after splashing water on my face, I walked in.

And while I don’t remember exactly what he said, I do recall breaking down and admitting, to my boss, my fears — how he looked back at me with his kind eyes and assured me that what I was about to go through was worth it, not because it would bring his newspaper glory, but because it would shine a positive light on the men and women risking their lives every day to ensure we had the right to fulfill our duty as journalists.

I will never forget that conversation — how a man far too important to talk down a nervous kid before he flew into a warzone did just that, how he reinforced just why I had decided to pursue a career in journalism in the first place.

My only regret these many years later is that I never got the chance to thank him for those few minutes we spent in his office that day.

So, when you read what we hope will be the many tributes written about Hal Tanner Jr. in the coming days, you will likely hear about his work as a publisher — how it’s not an easy job because not everyone agrees with how you do it or every word you print.

You’ll probably read about his conviction —how he stood firm when he needed to, when it would have been much simpler to take the easier road.

But there was more, so much more, to the man I will forever remember as “Mr. Tanner” — the human being who did so many right things no one knew about because there was no need to shout it from the rooftops. 

Doing the right thing without the promise of fanfare. That it was what you do when you are entrusted with a community’s future.

Learning that from the example he set is something I will carry with me forever.

And that is a legacy worth honoring.

To share your memories of Mr. Tanner on the Seymour Funeral Home Tribute Wall — and for information about the visitation and memorial service — click here.