Muenster Enterprise, community mourn local newspaper veteran Alvin Hartman

MUENSTER – Alvin Hartman, a fixture of Muenster life through his involvement with Sacred Heart Catholic Church, sports at Sacred Heart Catholic School, and decades of service at the Muenster Enterprise, has died at the age of 97.

By STEVE SNYDER, Muenster Enterprise

Hartman had deep roots in Muenster. One of his grandfathers helped build the original school building, and Alvin would later serve on the school’s board himself.

Per the school, Hartman helped start the Sacred Heart Tiger football program. He took the field as running back and co-captain in 1945.

Hartman became known for his ardent support of the Tigers after graduation. He served as football team statistician for decades. He did that work from the sidelines until he suffered a broken leg from an errant tackle a decade or so ago. He also played a variety of amateur sports when younger.

His Sacred Heart sports service and his sports writing for the Enterprise garnered him the Phil King Memorial Sportsmanship Award from KGAF in 1998.

Hartman went to work at the Enterprise shortly after his high school graduation in 1946.  He was there for almost 80 years before stepping down.

Hartman did virtually every job he could in the building. He briefly served as publisher, was an ad salesman for a number of years, a sportswriter and the editor. Above all, he was the composition man and press man.

That latter work was done on his beloved Heidelberg machine. He took it out of the crate when his boss, Mr. Fette, bought it back in the early 50s.

He is the only person to ever run the Heidelberg.

He kept it running smoothly with the same tool kit the manufacturer provided with it back then.

When asked how much that press originally cost, Alvin said, “Well, Mr. Fette said he could have bought a new Heidelberg or a new Cadillac. He opted for the Heidelberg.”

Per a Wikipedia article, The Original Heidelberg Platen Press was a letterpress printing press manufactured by the Heidelberger Druckmaschinen company in Germany.

In 2002, Scott Wood purchased the Enterprise.

“When I first started working at the Enterprise, Alvin pulled me aside and said he was soon to retire but would stay on and help me transition for just a bit,” Wood said “Over 20 years later, he was still at his desk helping.  His dedication to Sacred Heart, Muenster and the Enterprise was unmatched.  He was always quick to help anyone and did so with a incredibly positive spirit.  I feel blessed to have known him and to have called him my friend.”

Three of his later years coworkers also talked about Hartman.

“He reminded me of the Energizer bunny,” said Linda Flusche, among former Enterprise employees, “because he was always on the go and always had a good attitude.”

“I spend many hours walking the sidelines of Tiger football games with Alvin, then discussing his detailed stats to write the story,” said former Enterprise employee Janie Hartman. “I also hitched quite a few rides to away games with Alvin and his crew. He always found a Denny’s to stop for something to eat after the game.

“Alvin was always ready and willing to give tours of the Enterprise and show the detailed Heidelberg press,” she added.

Janet Felderhoff, former Enterprise editor, also weighed in.

“Alvin was a pleasure to work with. He always seemed to be in a good mood with a smile on his face and time to chat. He was an avid fan of Sacred Heart School and attended many of the school’s athletic events,” she said.

“My fondest memories of Alvin are when Scouts or a class from one of the schools would come to the Muenster Enterprise to tour the paper and printing plant. Alvin would sit at the Heidlberg printing press (now an antique) or one of the other presses, surrounded by interested youths. He would patiently explain the printing process to them. As a young man, Alvin learned how to set type when the newspaper was still printed here and type was set up one letter at a time. He was proficient in an art that is becoming extinct. He and his skills will be missed.”

Hartman was profiled in 2023 by Texas Highways magazine in its “My Hometown” section.

“Alvin was the salt of the earth,” former Enterprise publisher Austin Lewter said. “He was a dedicated family man, but he was also dedicated to his church, his community, the Muenster Enterprise and the Sacred Heart Tigers. I am a better person for having known him and will miss his stories and wisdom.”

Lewter now serves as the director of the Texas Center for Community Journalism and nominated Alvin for the Texas Press Association’s Golden 50 Award in 2024.

Hartman was one of seven people to receive TPA’s Golden 50 Award, in recognition of 50 years of service to journalism, at 2024’s TPA convention and trade show in College Station.

“The award honors newspaper professionals with more than 50 years on the job,” Lewter said. “At that point, I think Alvin had been at the Enterprise 78 years. So it was time. That is an incredible track record and I was honored to present him with the award in Muenster with him and his family.”

Current Enterprise editor Steve Snyder is glad to have been his friend and to have been considered a friend by him.