John Mark and Linda Paschal
John Mark and Linda Paschal
Awarded the Agnes Henebry Roll
of Honor
June 8, 1998
News Division of
SLA Awards
Banquet
Columbia Club
Indianapolis, IN
Presenters: Richard Geiger and Kathy Foley
SLA News Division Agnes Henebry Award
For John Mark & Linda Paschal
June, 1998
Richard Geiger: Henebry to the Paschals
John Mark and Linda Paschal have a long association with the News Division both as supporters and as active participants. Their company DataTimes was honored in 1992 with the Division’s Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition for support of Division activities at conference and the publication of the membership directory.
The Paschals are being honored for their role in helping to usher news libraries into the electronic era.
Kathy Foley: DataTimes corporate history
HEY!
I’m very honored to be here tonight to toast the accomplishments and the contributions of my friends John Mark & Linda Paschal.
In 1981, John Mark and Linda along with John Mark’s brother Allen founded DataTimes to develop and market text archival technology. Their first clients included the Daily Oklahoman and the Dallas Morning News. In 1983, the Oklahoma Publishing Company bought controlling interest in the firm, but left the management in the hands of the John Mark and Allen Paschal who both served as vice-presidents. Linda was named Customer Service Manager.
The client base doubled yearly. By 1990, DataTimes, John Mark & Linda had installed systems in 35 newsrooms, and leveraged their relationships with newspapers to develop an online service with content including The Washington Post and USA Today. While actively competing with Dialog and Lexis-Nexus, DataTimes entered into a strategic relationship with Dow Jones News Retrieval, building with them a joint computer center in New Jersey and providing one stop access to both The Wall Street Journal and DataTimes’s extensive newspaper content. This relationship was a boon for newsroom subscribers and the newspapers as information providers who saw royalties greatly increase. DataTimes grew during this venture from a $5.4 million company to one whose revenues topped $22 million. DataTimes anticipated the shift to end-users searching by developing a new generation interface based on Windows and a database migration away from Basis to Personal Librarian Software. DataTimes EYEQ was launched in 1995 pioneering a simplified user interface and offering a new pricing model, which shook up the online industry.
The successful company was ripe for a buyout. In 1996 Allen, John Mark and Linda Paschal shepherded the successful sale of DataTimes to UMI.
Richard: Bio background for John Mark
John Mark was born and raised in Oklahoma City. In 1974 he received a BA from Baylor University and in 1976 earned an MBA. He was Manager of Patient Accounts at the Diagnostic Clinic of Houston for three years and computerized their operation. In 1979, almost 20 years ago, he and Linda started DataTek, a computer "time-share" company that was to become DataTimes.
As VP of Systems, John Mark oversaw the technical side of DataTimes, while interfacing with technical staffs of newspaper clients.
John Mark’s energies have not only been directed at work projects. His contributions to news libraries include a series of seminars on database research for journalists in Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, and Warsaw in 1993, sponsored by the Freedom Forum.
He has also served as President of the Endowment Trust for Oklahoma City Libraries, and on the boards of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the National Cowboy Hall for Fame and Western Heritage Foundation.
He is now Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Aftermarket Technology Corporation.
Kathy: Bio background for Linda
Linda Patterson Paschal grew up in Port Lavaca, Texas.
Her parents told me that even as a child Linda knew what she wanted, and didn’t hesitate to let you know. A family legend has grown around the time when Linda – age 18 months – went to a nice restaurant with her parents. After taking her parents meal order, the waitress kindly asked the little girl what she wanted and was floored when Linda said "raw oysters and a rare sirloin steak."
Linda’s father’s job took the family abroad for several years in Brazil, which may explain Linda’s majoring in college in Foreign Service. How well those diplomatic skills have served her when dealing with our newsrooms!
Linda met John Mark at Baylor University – after Linda’s graduation they married. In 1979 the Paschals moved to John Mark’s hometown, Oklahoma City.
During the mid-1980’s and early 1990’s, John Mark and Linda traveled extensively as they installed archives systems at newspapers and magazines across the country. Linda worked side by side with news librarians nationwide converting news archives from paper or from older electronic systems and training reporters and editors.
Linda and John Mark have balanced their careers with marriage, parenthood and community service. Their daughter Jennifer who is a Junior photojournalism student at Baylor told me that her parents have been a role model for her – and that she is very proud that they are her parents.
In 1990, Linda was recognized as the Journal Record’s Oklahoma City Woman of the Year for her career achievements and community involvement.
She is very active in community business activities through Leadership Oklahoma City.
Linda volunteers her talents by serving in leadership positions with the Junior League, Travelers Aid, and Oklahoma State Public Affairs Committee, just to name a few.
She is now affiliated with NewsBank in the Rights and Permissions group, where she continues to use her diplomatic skills and her technical expertise to operate in the fast-pace world of online information.
Richard: Importance of DataTimes to newspaper industry
DataTimes became one of the premier vendors for newspaper library systems. While newspapers seem to have a habit of being burned by newspaper technology vendors, DataTimes was an exception to this rule. It was a company that delivered what it promised – an affordable solution to swelling, disintegrating or disappearing clipping files.
With John Mark and Linda overseeing installations, it’s no wonder that DataTimes soon earned a reputation for quality. They were known for their intelligence, attention to detail, and just friendly, good-spirited approach.
Sharon Reeves, at the San Diego Union Tribune lauds the Paschals for eloquently representing their newspaper industry clients in the BASIS, software users group meetings. Linda participated on the board of directors and became president.
Kathy: Impact of John Mark & Linda on status of news librarians
Lany McDonald tells it this way: "Over the years, I’ve relied on Linda to help me in ways I’d never count on from any other vendor. When I put in my first database system in Raleigh, it was all so new to all of us and many of my staff members were scared out of their minds about this whole electronic world. Then Linda arrived, spent an entire week, and managed to make everyone feel like experts before she left.
Her reassurance and encouragement enabled even the most inept of us. So when I went to Time Inc. and had to put in a new system at the same time I was restructuring a huge department, I knew I could call in Linda to manage the whole database process. Once again, she took a group of scared, skeptical staff members and turned them into an efficient database team, and she did it by making each one feel capable and confident. I consider knowing her and working with her to be one of the greatest blessings of my career."
Richard: Dr. Martini
I’d like to point out a sterling example of John Mark’s leadership skills. On a rowdy bus trip, returning from the Anaheim awards banquet, John Mark focused on the needs of the News Division members present – this in spite of a raucous performance by Nora Paul and myself. We were performing a risque version of Maria Muldaur’s "Don’t you feel my leg," which I was… doing…
Anyway, John Mark, and a small select team of Division diehards, directed the bus to a nearby liquor store for further provisions. At the cash register, John Mark, sprung his DataTimes credit card…
Another example of his dynamism: six months after John Mark was in Hong Kong on business, his brother, Allen and Tim Bradbury were there finishing off a deal. They stopped in at Suzie Wong’s bar since John Mark had recommended it. When Allen casually mentioned that his brother John Mark had been there, they were all over him. **He** was the brother of **the** John Mark Paschal. They could hardly pay for anything. They could hardly get out of the place. John Mark had apparently become "family".
And where do you get the best martinis at the conference. DataTimes night at the suite, with "Dr. Martini," – John Mark Paschal – behind the bar. Well, in honor of your great party prowess, I present you with a Suzie Wong/Dr. Martini commemorative martini glass.
Kathy: Paschals of Oklahoma City
"I was just the salesman. John Mark and Linda had to figure out what it was I had promised and the deliver!!! Truth be told, after they installed a few libraries, their reputation for integrity, quality and customer responsiveness made the new sales fall easily. They were the foundation for DataTimes. And they always new how to have fun in their work and valued the people they met and worked with.
I have always envied how well they worked together as a husband and wife. They proved it can not only be done, but done well. If the opportunity ever arose, I would work with them again in a second."
Allen Paschal
April 19, 1995, the day of the Oklahoma City bombing was one of those events that you will always remember – where you were and how you felt. For many of us the tragedy of the bombing was intensified by a personal relationship with Oklahoma City and to some of its citizens. For those of us who had been to Oklahoma City for training workshops it was a place that held memories of important professional growth, networking and fun. In my mind, Oklahoma City, DataTimes and the Paschals combined to represent hospitality, excellence and the thrill of being a part of a systems project at the edge of technology. It is fitting that we recognize the achievements of John Mark and Linda Paschal with the Henebry Award – and to bestow on them the honor we have so far reserved for our other Henebry winner – Cronin of Boston by dubbing them The Paschals of Oklahoma City.
John Mark's Speech
It is truly an honor to be recognized this evening and to receive the Agnes Henebry Award, especially over the years having witnessed the past recipients, and to be included this year with John Cronin. I want to thank the entire News Division and especially the selection committee for thinking that Linda & I are deserving of this award.
Being back at SLA, and among friends from the News Division, really brings back some fond memories for me. So you will have to bear with me if I get a bit nostalgic. I can remember my and Linda’s first SLA - New York City 1984. We came together as the DataTimes representatives, set up our very modest booth, and tried to act like we knew what we were doing. Our booth, by the way, consisted of a table, two chairs, and a cardboard map of the United States with a star on the state of Oklahoma. A notation read "The Daily Oklahoman Online", with another notation underneath that read "Coming Soon - The Dallas Morning News". Little did we know what exciting times lay ahead.
What we did experience at that first SLA, was that the members of the News Division welcomed us with open arms, and we began to forge many new professional and personal relationships.
Throughout the last several years, we have worked with most of you to forge a whole new way of delivering information. Together we have moved rapidly into the Information Age, sometimes pulling coworkers and superiors kicking and screaming along the way, and sometimes resisting the changes ourselves. Most of the time, the members of this division have lead the way as loyal custodians of the information in your care.
I am now in an entirely different industry, and serve a whole new brand of customer: Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, and AT&T. But I carry to those customers the lessons I learned from the members of this division. I can honestly say that I have never worked with a collective group of individuals that are more dedicated to excellence, or more professional that the women and men in this room.
Allen, who always supported Linda and I, and without who there would have been no DataTimes. He has always held the members of this division in high regard, and IAC is fortunate to have him at the helm.
The former staff of DataTimes, a few of which are here tonight. The people of DataTimes were a family to us, in fact Linda, Allen and I feel like we raised most of them. They were always full of energy, hard work, and most importantly, they really knew how to have a good time. Many have continued to work within the Information Industry, and their respective organizations are fortunate to have them.
Two other special people here tonight had a profound effect on DataTimes and, as a result, the members of this division. When Linda, Allen and I, back in the early 80’s were attempting to create our company, we went to just about every bank in Oklahoma City to get start-up financing. At that time, only oil companies were getting the loans. Two people believed in us enough to finance us in the beginning, prior to the involvement of the Oklahoma Publishing Company. They not only invested in us financially, but they have invested in us emotionally throughout the years, always eager to hear of our latest contract and accomplishment. Mom and Dad, thank you for your early assistance in starting DataTimes, and the impact you have had on the people in this room.
Lastly, I want to thank Linda for being such a great business partner. I always knew she would be a great partner based on a letter I received from her many years ago. It is dated November 27, 1973, and reads as follows:This, of course, was not in response to a business deal, but to my proposal of marriage. Working together certainly tested our relationship at times, but all in all, it was a great joy to share the excitement of our professional lives together. We never lacked for conversation when we got home from the office. I'm sure the members of this division never dreamed they would be the subject of so much pillow talk!
November 27, 1973
Dear Mr. Paschal:
I am replying in answer to the deal we made about two weeks ago. Since I only
gave a verbal consent, I felt I should write giving you legal consent.
This letter is to inform you that if you wish to have a contract drawn up, I
will be willing to sign it, provided you let me know the stipulations in advance, and I agree
to them.I am looking forward to our partnership in the years to come, and am
anticipating a profitable and enjoyable alliance.
Very Sincerely (and lovingly) yours,
Linda Lee Patterson
Working with Linda always reminded me of the old Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers analogy. Linda is like Ginger: she did everything Fred did, but she also did it backwards and in high heels! Linda was always the voice of the customer at DataTimes, and I know she continues that practice today. Newsbank is fortunate to have her.
Again, Thank you so much for this great honor. It’s great to be here and back among friends.
Linda's Speech
Now it’s my turn to get nostalgic. But first, I would like to thank the Awards Committee and the Division for the Agnes Henebry Award. I agree with John Mark that it is such an honor to be included in this prestigious group of people.
I would also like to thank my colleagues from the NewsBank, who have been so supportive of my continuing involvement in the News Division. AND I want to thank many of you in this room for your friendship and support over the years. You started out as customers and soon became my friends. Several of you have since become very close friends and even mentors. Without you, my personal and professional life would never have been as rich and rewarding as it is.
Now, I’d like to share some memories: I also remember our first SLA. We showed up at the suite one night as hosts, and Barbara Semonche was the chair that year. She asked what we had planned for the party. I whipped out my credit card and asked her what she thought we should do. She said, "good booze and good food - no cheap stuff". It was good advice, Barbara, and from that time on, we always tried to follow it when throwing a DataTimes function.
I remember my first News Division banquet in Winnipeg, with Beverly Russell and Lou Thomas. I realize now how fortunate I was to have been befriended by many of the legends of this Division, .like Lou and Beverly, Shirley Mooney, Homer Martin, Jim Scoffield, and so many others.
I’ve had some of the best times with the News Division folks: fine dining, discoing at Stringfellows in New York, comedy clubs in L.A. with host Bob Jansen, touring the White House, costume parties, museums & wine tastings, touring Alcatraz and even throwing cow chips and racing armadillos at a Dude Ranch in Texas.
Remember huddling in the basement during the tornado at SLA in Denver? And the breathtaking view from the ladies bathroom in Seattle. And what about the hotel fire in Montreal? That was certainly a climatic ending to the DataTimes party in the suite when we all had to walk down more than 40 flights of stairs. We had a tough time evacuating the party’ers of this group from the free food and drink, but at least we had our glow-in-the-dark necklaces!
Some of you may remember coming to Oklahoma City for BASIS classes. I realize now the classes were probably pretty boring and for that I apologize. And thanks for humoring me when I drug you to see the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. (It was a class requirement!) There were a select few that got to witness one of the worst tornadoes in Oklahoma’s history, the one that flattened a whole neighborhood. We were having dinner in a restaurant just a few miles away.
In the beginning, I remember how scared I was during our first computer installation at the Dallas Morning News. I was just hoping that Judy Metcalf and Judy Sall didn’t realize how little I knew about News Libraries. It was like the blind leading the blind, but we persevered (mainly because we didn’t know any better) and after a few months and with Carol Campbell’s able assistance, their database was in full swing. I’m proud to say they used it for 13 years before upgrading.
Another memorable event was watching the USA TODAY folks experience their first rodeo. The first calf out of the chute that night for the Calf Roping competition got injured and was hauled away on a stretcher. Chris wells and her staff pronounced rodeos barbaric and renamed the event, "Cow Dragging".
I’ve had the opportunity to work in dozens of newsrooms and visit many towns and cities all across the country. I have learned so much from so many people sitting in this room tonight.
Some of the things I’ve learned are how to drive a stick-shift. One day at the Washington Post, Kathy Foley decided to participate in the blood drive. She fainted, and I got a crash course while driving her home in DC rush hour traffic.
During a 6 week stint in New York City while working with Lany McDonald, she taught me how to ride the subway and appreciate fine dining and Broadway shows. I also learned how to shop the delis and haggle with the merchants.
It was actually here in Indianapolis working with Sandy Fitzgerald & Kathy Knapp that I made the commitment to take up golf. One of the paper’s Systems Editors made custom golf clubs and talked me into buying some. After that investment, I had to take up the game.
I have many fond memories: like eating canoli for the first time in Boston, with Cecily Surace, Richard Geiger, Jen Belton, Sherry Adams and a bunch of others. I remember tasting my first gnocchi in San Francisco at the Stinking Rose with a very rowdy bunch who will remain unnamed, since most of them are either presenting or receiving awards tonight.
There have been so many great times spent with my friends of the News Division and I look forward to many more in the years to come! I will be forever grateful for all the memories, for all that you have taught me, and especially for this award. Thank you.
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John Mark with Kathy Foley |
John Mark delivers his speech as |
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Linda with Joseph |
John Mark with Sherry |
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Kathy Foley and Richard
Geiger |
John Mark's parents look on |
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here.