Suzi Prozanski

After high school in Dallas, Texas, Susan Turner was able to begin her studies at Texas A&M University as a sophomore, majoring in journalism. “I took AP classes in high school,” she explains. “I joined the first class that was 50/50, men and women, in a formerly all-male school. The men were mostly military-style or cowboys, but Floyd Prozanski had long hair and a beard. I met him there.” After graduation, she and Floyd got married and moved to Houston, where he entered law school and she worked as a copy editor with the Houston Post. “I helped Floyd through law school, then we both wanted to move,” she relates. “We did research on the best place to live in America, and came up to Eugene in 1984. Floyd got a job as an attorney and The Register-Guard hired me as a part-time copy editor.” The couple also visited the Oregon Country Fair that first summer, then returned the next day to see Bubbleman Tom Noddy and the Flying Karamazov Brothers. Suzi began volunteering at the Fair in 1990, when she helped staff Gil Harrison’s pottery booth. She joined the Fair’s Info Crew in 1993, and in 2003 moved to the Fair Family News crew, helping to produce its monthly newsletter. She currently serves as chair of the Fair’s philanthropy, the Jill Heiman Vision Fund. Floyd Prozanski has gone on to a 27 year career as a representative, then a senator in the Oregon State Legislature. Suzi Prozanski became a union leader in 1999, but got involved in difficult labor negotiations with the RG and quit her job in 2002. “I started thinking about writing a book about the founding of the Fair,” she notes. “Gil Harrison introduced me to folks who put on the first fair in 1969. I interviewed 300 people; their interconnectedness amazed me.” It took eight years to compile and publish the 447 page volume, Fruit of the Sixties, The Founding of the Oregon Country Fair, and another ten years to complete Brigadoon of the Sixties, Revelry and Kerfuffles at the Oregon Country Fair. She envisions a trilogy.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!