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JANUARY 17, 2019
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
‘Like a dog on the hunt’ A career blossoms for 87-year-old at Williston Insurance Agency By Jason Starr Observer staff
“It’s a hell of a time in my life to start a new adventure,” Ernie Oldenburgh says as he leans back in his office chair, in front of two computer screens and a mobile and office phone, and marvels how, at age 87, he has started a new career with the Williston Insurance Agency. “At my age,” he continues, “I guess I’m supposed to be sitting in a corner sucking my thumb talking to everyone about how bad I feel. That’s not the way I was brought up.” Oldenburgh is a longtime customer at the agency who would come into the office occasionally for policy check-ins or to pay a premium. On one of those visits last spring, agency owner David Palmer struck up casual conversation about Oldenburgh’s work experience. Palmer knew Oldenburgh has an exceptional way with people and was only half
OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
Ernie Oldenburgh, 87, works Tuesday at the Williston Insurance Agency.
joking when he floated the idea of bringing Oldenburgh on for a part-time role with the agency. “We were chatting about different things, and he said ‘let’s have coffee,’” Oldenburgh recalled. “The more we talked, the more
excited I got. It was a chance for me to prove to myself that I can still cut the mustard when it comes to work.” Palmer didn’t really have an opening on his staff. But he created one for Oldenburgh.
“We don’t’ really know what pulled us together, but it was something great,” Palmer said. “He is wonderful to work with. He’s a kind person, and he fits into every situation. I learn so much from him and how he see OLDENBURGH page 2
Williston sports legends headed for Hall of Fame By Lauren Read
Observer corresponde1nt
OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
Mal Boright was a sports reporter for the Williston Observer for 12 years and a founding member of the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame.
Two Williston legends are making their way into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. Freestyle skier Ann Battelle and longtime sportswriter Mal Boright will both be inducted into the Hall’s seventh class, it was announced last Wednesday afternoon at Saint Michael’s College. “Mal was a delight as a person and professional as a journalist. In
whatever capacity, as a sportswriter, as a play-by-play announcer, or as talk show host, Mal was incredibly knowledgeable,” said Ted Ryan, a member of the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame’s board of directors. “He took his roles seriously but never took himself too seriously. He could inform and entertain with a touch of whimsy and fun” Boright, who passed away in 2016, was a founding member of
the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame and is this year’s David Hakins Inductee for exceptional promotion and development of sports in Vermont. The longtime sports scribe covered Vermont sports for over 50 years and wrote for the Williston Observer from 2004 to 2016. “He delighted in telling the stories of athletes and coaches to his audience, and he was passionate about sports, most particularly high school athletics,” Ryan said.
“As one of the founders of the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame, Mal was an incredible resource on Vermont sports going back to the 1950s. He was invaluable in helping the Hall establish its criteria for induction and in helping to guide the nomination and selection process. “Mal is greatly missed in all his roles but especially as an exceptional fine person.” Joining Boright in the Hall see LEGENDS page 15
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