By JOSH FUNK
Alumni News staff
Majoring in journalism was a foregone conclusion for Lynn Roper; hers was a newspaper family.
But after graduation, she bucked tradition and, along with her husband, Dana, carved her niche in society.
Though both Ropers received journalism degrees, neither continued in the news business.
“The journalism degree makes them good citizens,” said Neale Copple, who was dean of the college when the Ropers were at NU. “They’ve been going great guns ever since (graduation).”
Lynn Roper’s grandparents started the weekly newspaper in Sheridan County and ran it for years. Then her parents ran the Sheridan paper before they moved to Sidney and bought The Sidney Telegraph.
Roper’s brother, John Gottschalk, ran the Sydney paper for a few years before moving to the Omaha World-Herald, where he is now the chief executive officer.
So Lynn Roper seemed bound for a career in newspapers.
But that wasn't the way things turned out.
She and Dana Roper graduated from the journalism college together in 1970 and have used the skills they learned in school and a strong work ethic to succeed at careers outside traditional journalism.
“They both have this incredible work ethic,” said long-time friend Jane Moody of Lincoln. “About all they do when they are in town is work.”
Since 1976 Lynn Roper has been a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch’s Lincoln office. She started with the company when it moved to town and became resident manager of the office in 1989.
“I always loved economics,” Lynn Roper said of her college minor that she has made into a career.
Copple said his former student was very bright and a quick study.
“She has a grasp for a lot of details,” Copple said. “She was just kind of a natural (for finance).”
Even though life carried Roper into the world of finance, she did find a home in a newspaper building. Merrill Lynch’s office at 301 S. 12th St. is located in the old Lincoln Star building, which was the morning newspaper before the Journal and Star merged.
Before starting with Merrill Lynch, Lynn Roper coordinated public relations campaigns for the United Way’s Lincoln office, organizing and carrying out fund-raising campaigns with United Way volunteers for three years.
Her husband, Dana, decided to try the law after graduating as a journalism major in the business college.
Dana Roper said he majored in broadcast journalism while in the business college for two reasons: in case he wanted to get into the business side of journalism and, more importantly, so he wouldn’t have to take a foreign language.
But when graduation sneaked up on Roper, he had to make a career decision.
“I screwed up and got too many hours, and they were going to give me a degree,” Dana Roper said. “Someone had told me that law school was a good education.”
Copple said he used to complain that the top 10 to 15 journalism graduates would go to law school each year, but he admitted losing potential journalists to careers in the law was not all bad.
“Lord knows we need lawyers who understand the First Amendment,” Copple said.
After law school, Dana Roper worked briefly with the Nebraska Public Service Commission before starting at the Lincoln City Attorney’s office where he has been for the past 26 years. In January Roper became the city attorney.
Both the Ropers said their journalism educations have been invaluable in their careers.
“The only thing I don’t do is write,” Lynn Roper said. But she uses interviewing and reporting skills regularly.
“(Journalism school) gave me the ability to ask questions and listen for answers,” Roper said. “And it taught me how to find information.”
In college Lynn Roper worked for four years at the Daily Nebraskan and interned at the Des Moines Register.
“All my college experiences benefited me,” Lynn Roper said. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority and Mortar Board.
Dana Roper said journalism taught him how to write well under pressure.
“Life is not unlike J-371,” Roper said. "There are deadlines, and you’ve got to write well and fast."
Moody, who graduated with a journalism degree in 1968 and has been a friend of the Ropers since their years at NU, said journalistic experience probably helped Dana Roper as a lawyer.
“Attorneys have a tough time writing anything that anyone would like to read,” Moody said.
Roper, who has taught business law classes at the university for 24 years, said journalism taught him to collect his thoughts quickly.
Though life has taken the Ropers away from their college pursuits, neither expressed any regrets.
Copple said the Ropers’ decision not to practice journalism was not disappointing because they had both done well in their chosen careers.
“It doesn’t bother me,” Copple said. “We’ll just people the other fields as well.