Rusty Anglin knows newspapers. He has done it all: from reporter to photographer to circulation to promotion to marketing to sales and to management.

“Why do I like newspapers? It is because I like people,” he said. “Newspapers involve people. It is all about people.”

Adrian “Rusty” Anglin grew up in Indiana, near Purdue University. As a child he thought he would become an engineer, but working summers in his father’s plumbing/heating business made him realize that kind of work was not for him. Rusty graduated from Purdue with a degree in communication/English. While in college he worked for the university’s bookstore and enjoyed reading and writing.

He started his professional career in 1970 as a reporter/photographer for the Journal Review in Crawfordsville, Ind., and two years later moved to American Press in Lake Charles, La., where he was State Editor.

Rusty enjoyed his time in the newsroom and developed an appreciation for all the work that goes into a story, but decided his natural fit was probably in other aspects of newspapering. A few newspapers and a few states later, Rusty joined the Chicago Sun-Times as Circulation Sales Director. In 1986, he landed at the Chicago Tribune as Circulation Promotion Manager, expecting to stay couple of years or so.

Well, he’s still there and still loves it. In his 23 years at the Tribune he has held, successfully, positions from Circulation Promotion Manager to Major Account Sales Manager to Entertainment Sales Manager and to Retail Sales Manager, and along the way earned several awards.

“Rusty is always cool as a cucumber, never loses composure,” said Matt Bute, Tribune Classified Sales Manager and a Northern Star Alumnus. “Last year, Rusty’s entire team nominated him for the Quarterly Leadership Award. That is an honor that managers usually bestow on their staffs, not the other way around.

“The other thing about Rusty: He is by far the best-dressed man at the Chicago Tribune.”

Rusty joined the Northern Star family in 2004 when he was appointed to the Publication Board. Retiring board member Rich Schovanec hand-picked him as his replacement.

“Rusty is quiet, unassuming, likes young people, and he is not afraid to roll up his sleeves,” Schovanec said.

Rusty – who is the Publication Board chair – does much more than board duties. He is very much involved in the Star’s advertising program. He serves as mentor to students, and is always happy to share his wealth of experience and knowledge with students and advisers alike. Rusty coordinates yearly sales seminars – held at the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center – for Illinois college newspapers.

Rusty truly enjoys working with young people. In his words, “The big payoff is in seeing kids succeed.”

Rusty and his wife, Christine, have two sons.