by Paul A. Tenkotte
Special to NKyTribune
The word “eulogize,” in its Latin roots, literally means “to bless.” How appropriate it is that we eulogize those who have passed, literally and figuratively “blessing” them for being a “blessing” in our lives!
Our colleague, historian and journalist Jim Reis, blessed his readers with his “Pieces of the Past” column, which ran weekly from May 1982 through August 2005 in the Kentucky Post. Reis was an inspiration to all of us who are engaged in carrying on his work to document the rich history of our region.
His column was the model, in fact, for “Our Rich History” in the NKyTribune.
I remember Jim as a quiet, unassuming man who was a great listener. In fact, listening is one of the vital hallmarks of a skilled historian and journalist. Jim’s listening skills, however, were more than merely a part of his craft’s toolbox. Jim was a sincere listener, genuinely interested in what others had to say, because Jim truly liked people. And they liked him.
Dave Schroeder, Director of the Kenton County Public Library has fond memories of Jim: “I remember starting as a shelver at the Kenton County Public Library in Covington in February 1986. One of the rules was that patrons did not venture behind the reference desk. However, several days a week, I noticed one gentlemen stroll behind the desk and retrieve the key that opened our local history files and allowed for free microfilm printing. I asked my supervisor who the gentleman was.
“The response was, ‘Oh, that’s Jim Reis from The Post, he does most of the research for his column here – do you know him?’ I did not know Jim at that time — I was only 18 years old, but I did know his column. It was the first thing I read every Monday afternoon when I got home from school. My supervisor said, ‘Just treat Jim like a member of the staff,’ and we did!
“Jim came to staff potlucks and holiday parties. He was just one of us, and we loved having him in the building. I also got the chance to ask him about projects I was working on and to get his advice. Jim was always ready, willing and able to share his knowledge. He encouraged me in my work, and I will always consider him a mentor and a friend. He will be missed by the staff at the library.”
Longtime Northern Kentucky historian John Boh also remembers Jim Reis fondly: “When Crescent Springs celebrated 50 years as a sixth class city in 2007, Jim — knowing the main organizer from his days as a reporter — was a participant. At a community ceremony on a sunny day, standing a little wobbly on a small platform serving as a podium, and despite the extreme awkwardness, Jim started his short presentation about Crescent Springs with a little joke.”
Jim’s humor was part of his overall grace and style. Recalls Boh, “Besides writing, he gave tours and talks to local groups. I recall one announcement of a tour led by him in Evergreen Cemetery. He once jokingly remembered entering a building with multiple meeting spaces and after preliminaries, proceeded to give one of his talks to the wrong group in the wrong room.”
Somehow, I can’t help but believe that those people who were expecting another speaker when Jim entered the wrong room, were pleasantly surprised and probably enjoyed the experience immensely. After all, Jim was a master storyteller, who helped to make Northern Kentucky history both respectable and interesting. Thousands, including me, read his column religiously. His work brought me — and all of his dedicated readers — great joy.
God bless you, Jim, because you were a “blessing” to all of us!
We want to learn more about the history of your business, church, school, or organization in our region (Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky). If you would like to share your rich history with others, please contact the editor of “Our Rich History,” Paul A. Tenkotte, at tenkottep@nku.edu. Paul A. Tenkotte is Professor of History and Director of the Center for Public History at NKU.