by Terry Haycock, PenPoints Editor
In the Kitchen with Olga
by Terry Haycock, PenPoints Editor
For Olga Gize Carlile, journalism is "the best profession in the world…
My job has opened worlds of travel, writing friends, and a most fulfilling life…
There's the excitement of the newsroom and… of working with wonderful words,
of making them say what I want to convey to my readers."
After graduating from the Ernie Pyle School of Journalism at Indiana University,
Carlile began her career as a copy editor for Freeport, Illinois' The Journal
Standard when working with hot type was the norm. She has experienced the
progression from that hot type to cold type to computers and on to pagination.
She has interviewed Pearl Buck, Martha Stewart, Vincent Price, Sally Jesse Raphael,
Mickey Gilley, Chicago's Archie Lieberman and many other celebrities, including
Julia Child and most of the emerging chefs.
Carlile has traveled the world, sharing her experiences and observations with
her readers. She has won three first place Illinois Associated Press awards
for feature writing, eight IWPA Silver Feather Awards, over 600 other journalism
awards and a national science award.
She has written two award-winning cookbooks (Heritage Cook Book of Northwest
Illinois and In the Kitchen with Olga) and four additional books.
Still employed by the Standard, Carlisle writes a daily column, a weekly food
column and a food feature. In 1992, she won the National Federation of Press
Women's National Communicator of Achievement Award. She has held every office
of the IWPA except treasurer, serving as president for two years. She has also
held several positions on the NFPW board.
Always active in her community, Olga was one of the first women members of an
11-county Boy Scout Council and as a board member of the Jane Addamsland Park
Foundation and a journalist is credited with advancing the acquisition of the
Racetrack Prairie, Indian Garden, and a 50-acre addition to Oaklawn Park. A
gourmet cook, she has also served on national committees of the Food Writers
America.
Always the journalist, Olga carries a notebook with her to jot down thoughts
and ideas and keeps a journal filled with "sayings and writings and wonderful
happenings of family and friends that nourish me." Her professional expertise,
enthusiastic spirit, generosity and graciousness have been appreciated by her
family friends and colleagues for many years."There is always a chance
to write … better, to learn new techniques of reporting and writing. Newspaper
work calls for curiosity and persistence. There is never a dull moment … Each
day there is something new and exciting to write about … For me, being a journalist
is still as exciting as ever. It's more than a job, it's a calling."
As a wife, mother, grandmother, cook and journalist, the world seems to be Olga's
kitchen, her writing full of the tastes, sights, sounds and smells of the world
around her. The next time you arrive at an IWPA event, look for Olga and introduce
yourself. You are guaranteed a welcoming smile, a delightful conversation and
a renewed appreciation for life itself.