Barney Crosier, a legend in the Vermont newspaper world, died last month at the age of 96. His friend and former colleague Susan Smallheer talked to VPR about Crosier's life and legacy.
Listen above to Susan Smallheer’s conversation with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb. An obituary for Crosier was published in the Rutland Herald.
Crosier worked at the Rutland Herald for decades. He started as a reporter, covering the greater Springfield area. By the time he retired in 1987, he was the Windsor County Bureau Chief.
And even after his retirement, Crosier continued writing for the newspaper for another 15 years as a freelance columnist and op-ed writer.
“He was the most down-to-earth person who was dedicated to covering Vermont, covering Vermont’s people, getting important stories in front of people,” said Smallheer, who took over for Crosier as bureau chief at the Rutland Herald in 1982.
Smallheer, who now reports for the Brattleboro Reformer, remembers Crosier as "low-key" — even though, Smallheer described, Crosier was also "very determined to get to the story first"
“He dressed ... very 'Vermont-y' – you know, corduroy pants, a Johnson shirt, boots," Smallheer said. "He’d show up with his clipboard and he’d say, 'Well, you know, tell me your story’ or ‘Tell me what I should know.'"’
