Henry de Fiebre joined the Northern Star as a reporter in 1970. Hank transferred to NIU intent on a career in newspapers. It is unlikely, however, that he could have anticipated how successful that career would be. Hank’s friends and colleagues recall that from his first days at the Star, he demonstrated a deep interest in all aspects of newspapering in addition to his already strong skills as a writer and reporter. Hank subsequently became news editor, associate editor and editorial editor. As a member of the Star’s editorial board in 1971, Hank helped introduce the first computer production equipment to the Star.

Another significant transition occurred at the paper during this time: Adviser Roy Campbell died in 1971. “He was the best,” Hank says. “Everyone genuinely respected and loved Roy Campbell.”

Campbell was succeeded by Jerry Thompson, then an instructor in the Journalism Department. “I used to tell Jerry he was the most courageous guy I knew, taking over for Roy,” Hank said. “But Jerry was his own person, and he quickly gained the respect and friendship of the Star’s staff.”

Hank graduated from NIU in 1972 with a B.S. degree in journalism. He worked as a reporter for the Southern Illinoisan before joining the Courier in Evansville, Ind., in 1978. In 1981, he joined Reiman Publications as an editor, eventually moving up to editorial director, vice president and senior vice president. During Hank’s tenure, the company grew from a small publisher of farm magazines to a major publisher of consumer magazines and books. Hank retired from the company in 1999.

In 1993, Hank and his wife, Karen Rothe, established –anonymously– the Northern Star Alumni Scholarship. For six years the scholarship was funded annually by the couple. In 1999, they donated the money necessary to permanently endow the scholarship. Renamed the Campbell-Thompson Scholarship, it now represents a $3,000 gift to a selected Star staffer.

“Henry and his wife reflect what is great about the Star: a love of newspapering and a generous spirit,” Thompson says.

Hank and Karen live in Wauwatosa, Wis., with their teen-age daughter, Amanda. Hank’s son, Jonathan, and his wife, Amy Reeder, recently delivered Hank his first grandson, Matthew.