BOGGS, William "Bert" - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Former publisher, businessman and musician William Labert “Bert” Boggs died September 15 at Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, following ulcer surgery. He was 66.

  For 21 years he was the owner, publisher and editor of the Veedersburg News and Hillsboro Times, weekly newspapers. He also published the Country Cousin, a weekly magazine that won high Indiana press honors. Family ownership of this Fountain County newspaper business spanned 42 years, starting in 1921 with his father, William Ira Boggs. His mother, Dot Boggs, was also active in the business most of her life.

  At one time Mr. Boggs also owned the Covington Friend, another weekly newspaper in Fountain County. The W. L. Boggs Company, an office equipment, furniture and supplies distributor, and a job printing plant were also owned and managed by Mr. Boggs.

  He sold his businesses in 1963 and shortly after became a sales representative for Butler Paper Company’s Terre Haute office, a subsidiary of Great Northern Nekoosa. He retired from Butler Paper in 1981.

  Boggs graduated from Veedersburg High School as president of his class. Upon his 1938 graduation from the University of Illinois School of Music, he married Lorama Wiese. He became the director of bands in the LaPorte and Mishawaka school systems for two and one year terms, respectively.

  He returned to his native Veedersburg in 1941 to become personnel manager with DuPont in Covington. Upon his father’s death in 1942, he took over the family’s newspaper business.

  At the University of Illinois, he was president of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity chapter for two years. While in college, he played in jazz bands and pit orchestras and toured Europe by being a member of bands on the steamships Laconia and Aquitannia.

  He continued his love of jazz throughout most of his life, being the stimulus behind many informal jazz groups in Fountain County. He played professionally in Danville, Illinois, area jazz bands for 20 years.

  His music career began at the age of five when he tap danced, sang and recited on vaudeville stages. His mother accompanied him on the Chautauqua circuit with top billing until he was 13 years old. He was especially well known for his impersonations of Harry Lauder, prominent Scottish performer in the 1920’s.

  Boggs was active in Democratic politics for many years. He also served as president of Veedersburg School Board. He used his newspaper editorial columns to improve the community, particularly the public school system. He contributed to music development in Veedersburg. For two years, he promoted and conducted Handel’s “Messiah,” using professional soloists and 33 local voices. In his later years, his interests turned to the preservation of wildlife and the environment.  Survivors are his wife; four children, Dr. Jon William Boggs of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Jodie Goldberg of Crestwood, Kentucky, Jayne White of Veedersburg and William Wiese Boggs of Ypsilanti, Michigan; and seven grandchildren.  Memorial services were held at Veedersburg First Christian Church on Saturday morning with Parham Funeral Home at Veedersburg in charge. The body was cremated and buried at Rockfield Cemetery at Veedersburg. The family requests any contributions go to the church of one’s choice, to World Vision or to Division of Overseas Ministries of Disciples of Christ in care of Rev. William Ringgold, First Christian church, 301 North Mill Street, Veedersburg.