William M. "Bill" Harmon, of Herrin, retired newspaperman and journalism teacher, died Tuesday, June 3, 2020, at his home. He was 95 years old, born July 7, 1924, in Oklahoma City, OK, to Amanda Erna (Peck) and William P. Harmon. Bill retired in 1988 from the School of Journalism at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale where he had been faculty managing editor of the Daily Egyptian for many years. His infamous red ink pen wielded power and instilled great fear in hundreds of fledgling student reporters. But they loved him for his toughness and credited him for building skills they later plied at newspapers throughout the country. “The story of my career begins with you and the DE, but mostly with you,” one former student told him. In October 2016, he was inducted into a Daily Egyptian "Hall of Fame." Journalism graduates remembered him for his iconic red ink pen with which he wrote notes of criticism, instruction and occasional praise on each issue of the DE which were posted on a newsroom bulletin board. Bill was a member of the Master Editors of the Southern Illinois Editorial Association. He was a reporter, feature writer and news bureau chief for 16 years with the Daily Oklahoman, where he got his first newspaper job in 1950 for what he considered "the magnificent sum" of $47.50 a week. Bill worked as managing editor for the Stillwater (OK) News-Press, and was publisher and editor of the Stillwater Star (a publication produced in the basement of his Stillwater home). He was a veteran of three years of World War II service, 1943-45, in the US Navy and spent 18 months in the South Pacific. In May 1950, he joined a US Army reserve unit and was assigned the rank of infantry sergeant. He served at Ft. Sill, OK, as editor of The Cannoneer, the post newspaper - "good duty," he was known to say in understatement. In 1960, Bill and fellow Daily Oklahoman reporter Mark Sarchet were nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for a series of stories about the state school at Enid for the mentally challenged. The stories sparked a legislative committee hearing and eventual establishment of a central purchasing system for state agencies. He earned BS and MS degrees in journalism from OSU. Bill joined the OSU journalism faculty as assistant professor, aide to the Arts and Sciences dean and adviser for the student newspaper, the Daily O'Collegian. The adviser job led to his coming to SIU-C to pursue a PH.D. In a turbulent era of Vietnam War protest, free speech movements, the assassination of Martin Luther King and the like, the OSU administration requested such news not appear on the front page of the O'Collegian. Bill was terminated by OSU in 1968 for defying that request. A subsequent review by the American Association of University Professors found the university had violated free speech and free press standards and censured the university. Bill often said his coming to SIU-C was like leaving a desert and finding an oasis. He was fond of telling the story of his two weddings to Margie Jo Brundage. The couple first eloped in June 16, 1949, married by a justice of the peace in Perry, Okla., when they were students at OSU. Margie’s mother was not pleased, and a second wedding was performed in St. Andrew Episcopal Church in Stillwater, August 13, 1949, the date they usually observed as their anniversary. Bill and Marge, as she was known to friends and family, had six children in 66 years of marriage, and seven grandchildren and three great-grandsons. Marge, a retired third grade teacher and three-term school board member, died April 20, 2016, 10 days after her 90th birthday. The surviving children are Catherine L. Fleck, Matthew P. Harmon and Ruth E. Harmon, all of Herrin; Margaret A. (James) Petersen, Wentzville, MO; and Melinda G. (Bill Cronin) Harmon, Deer, AR; and Mary E. Lockhart, Chattanooga, TN. The grandchildren are Joseph Petersen, New York City; Gus Petersen, Wentzville; Isabell Petersen, Boulder, CO; Anna (Jason Nark) Lockhart, Blackwood, NJ; Will Kellogg, Carpinteria, CA; Emily Fleck and her partner Dave Cipriani, Ojai, CA; Simon (Sharon) Stotler, Beaverton, OR. The great-grandsons are Marcus and Jacob of Beaverton and Julian of Ojai. For 15 years Bill and Marge owned and operated a well-known Herrin business, Nancy's Flowers and Gifts (now Les Marie Florist) while both were still working as teachers. They were active in civic and social groups. Bill served as president and treasurer of Herrin Rotary Club, which honored him with a "Most Valuable Player" award. He was president and drive chairman of Herrin United Way, and in 1992 he was honored by the Chamber of Commerce as "Citizen of the Year" for organizing the "Magic of Christmas" lighted parade. He was a charter member of Friends of Herrin City Library Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 20, 2022 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, with burial at Herrin City Cemetery. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Saturday in the church gathering space. Meredith Waddell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Those considering memorial donations may make them to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel new school fund or to the church's Sister Parish Project: 316 West Monroe Street, Herrin, IL 62948; ourladyofmtcarmelherrin.weshareonline.org or to the SIU Bill Harmon Scholarship: College of Mass Communications and Media Arts (Journalism), 1100 Lincoln Dr. # 6606, Carbondale, IL 62901; foreversiu.org/colleges-units/mass-communications.php The family wishes to thank the dedicated staff of Hospice of Southern Illinois.