Former Harrisburg Register circulation manager Herman 'Barney' Barnett to turn 90

HARRISBURG - A longtime familiar face in the Harrisburg community, and a person especially dear to the local newspaper industry, will celebrate his 90th birthday this month.

Herman "Barney" Barnett will turn 90 on Jan. 18, 2021, and his granddaughter Amy Craig of Harrisburg said he's looking forward to it.

Barnett worked for 30 years as circulation manager of the Harrisburg Register when it was The Daily Register. As such, he oversaw all the paper carriers and served as accountant for the paper. He also served in the same capacity for the Gallatin Democrat in Shawneetown and the Ridgway News. At the time, the two Gallatin papers were separate publications. He performed the same job responsibilities as well for Harrisburg Printers, and was secretary and treasurer of the corporation when he left, Craig said.

Overseeing the deliver of the paper each day was no small task, and Barnett was responsible for employing reliable paperboys to make the deliveries.

Craig shared several photos of her grandfather taken by the then-Daily Register and his cadre of paperboys. Some photos also showed him with paperboys selected by the company as "carriers of the year."

To celebrate Barnett's 90th birthday, his family is asking those with kind memories to share send a greeting card. Barnett, who is the father of Kathy Williams, grandfather of Amy Craig and great-grandfather of Callie Oxford, originally was going to have a large celebration for the occasion. Due to public health concerns regarding COVID-19, the family instead is asking friends to shower him with greeting cards.

Birthday and greeting cards may be mailed to: Herman "Barney" Barnett, 402 Small Street Apt. 4, Harrisburg, IL 62946.

Craig, his granddaughter, said he'll treasure the remembrances.

"Even with Alzheimer's, he vividly remembers his carrier boys and Register memories," she said. "I know he would love to hear from some of them."