-------------------------------------------------------------- One of her journalism professors describes her as the "girl who sits back .. . and pretends to learn what she already knows." Linda Hilbun smiles about that. Linda, a journalism major from Memphis, Tenn. , works full-time as a reporter for the Searcy Daily Citizen. She also carriers a full academic load, and has found the time to work in the Harding r Sports Information Office and to win awards for her work on the BisoD. There are advantages to the arrangements. "You can apply what you learn," she says, "and that's important. Journalism is kind of abstract in the classroom and you need a chance to apply it." Linda's interest in journalism began while she was a student at Memphis Harding Academy. "I was a junior in high schoOl, and my mother told me I could write," she says, smiling. With that encouragement, she began working on the school newspaper, the Lion, and spent the following summer as an intern for the Memphis State Helmsman. By then, she says, she knew she wanted to be a journalist. Linda came to Harding in 1977 ("It was natural after going to the Memphis Academy") and immediately joined the Bison staff as a reporter. The next year, she became features editor; the next year, she was sports editor. She won four Arkans-as--Publications Association awards, including a first place for her sports column. She also won the Neil B. Cope Award for outstanding sportswriting in 1979 and 1980. And, somehow, Linda found the time to "turn pro." "The Citizen had never hired an intern before," she recalls. "But I applied and got the job." Three wee~s later a reporter quit and Linda was asked to take his place. "I've been fortunate working for the Citizen," she says. "Most of my stories get to the front page; if I were on a larger paper, I'd be writing obits and stuff." Linda's work week includes covering night meetings and ball games. She also has a standing assignment to write a feature article for the Sunday paper. She usually writes the articles about people in the county who are doing something unusual. "Writing features is a creative outlet ... a chance to use creative skills," she says. "And you get a chance to meet people." "I've interviewed several lOO-year-olds on their birthdays, and I interviewed a 3-year-old who was taking karate. I enjoy meeting interesting as well as famous people." Linda turns the leaves of her scrapbook. Each page contains photos of people she has written about. "This is George Fisher, the cartoonist for the Arkansas Gazette ... he's one of the best in the country. He's from White County . .. "This is Jerry Eckwood, just before he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . .. "But I've learned a lot . . . that's Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply ... I wonder what I'm going to say every time, but it works out ... "That's Bill Clinton, three or four weeks before the election. I got to spend half an hour with Gov. Clinton alone . . . I was just panicky." The scrapbook is thick. There are pictures of Congressman Ed Bethune, whom Linda has interviewed "many, many times," and of singer Gene Cotton, who has been to Harding so many times that he calls Linda by name. Sophomores Linda's biggest story, was on Bill Dickey, a member of the baseball Hall of Fame and a teammate of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth . "We'd been looking for him for months," she says . "He lives in Little Rock and I got his unlisted phone number. He was pretty hot about that, at first." Linda's story appeared in the Arkansas Democrat and was picked up by the Associated Press. She still has clippings from papers that carried the story. "I sent that home to Mom and Dad," Linda says. What's ahead for Linda Hilbun? "After graduation . . . I just don't know," she says. "Over my career, I'd like to dabble in everything - public relations, advertising, and broadcast news . I'm kind of a restless person. Four years is a long time to stay in one place." "Curiosity" is what makes Linda Hilbun restless. "I want to see other places and meet other people and work at other jobs. I have found that I can be a reporter. I want to see what else I can do. I want to see how far I can go." - Heber Taylor III Kelly Eversole· Clearwater, FL Gregory Fair - Lufkin, TX Lori Felts - Tucson, AZ Kelly Ferrell - Rolla, MO Barry Fielder - McCrory, AR Margaret Finan· 5t. Louis, MO Patricia Finney· Vicksburg, MS Robert Fitzjerrell - N. Little Rock, AR Gareth Flanary - Glen Rick , PA Monda Fletcher - Hanson, KY Mark Fonville - Colleyville, TX Lynnette Forbes - EI Dorado, AR Marcella Ford - Apalachin, NY Randall Ford - Annandale, VA Joel Foster - North Platte, NE John Foster - Memphis, TN Kenneth Fowler · Southaven , M5 Rex Fowler - West Plains, MO Sharon Freeman - Fairfax, VA Barbara Friend - Nashville, TN Brad Frost - Nashville, AR Taro fIIjisawa • Kurashiki Okayam, Japan Beth Fullerton· Morrilton, AR Jane Futrell - Atlanta, GA Kristi Futrell - Pocahontas, AR Carl Galloway· Chesapeake, OH Timothy Gardner. Bedford, TX Cynthia Garner. El Dorado, AR Max Garnett - Hereford, TX Hugh Gaskill - Harrison, AR Deborah Gerkey - Exeter, MO Sharon Kay Gerlach - Dallas, TX Robert Gibson - Winona, MS Jobn Gipson - Little Rock, AR Byron Glenn. Paradise, CA 193 Ciccone-Glenn
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