25 in 25: You

I moved to NH in 1974 to attend graduate school at UNH. We came from Philadelphia, which had a vibrant Public Radio community, and I was dismayed that NH had none. I found WGBH in Boston and for the next 8 years, we were loyal GBH listeners. Then in the early 80's word of a Public Radio station that might begin operation in NH reached my ears. It was eagerly anticipated, and when WEVO started transmitting in 1982, we were among the first members, and we have been members since the beginning. I remember late evenings listening to Jazz or alternative music (which NHPR has abandoned and which is why I still revert to GBH on those evenings when music is more important than comments.) But to return, I might be listening to "Music from the Hearts of Space" or the "Folk Program" and the host would announce a contest for a cd (actually a record) to the third or fourth caller. I would contemplate whether I really wanted the record and then call. Since I more or less would usually get the record. I recall one evening when the host announced a contest in which the fifth caller would get the prize. I wanted the prize so I called. I was notified that I was the first caller, I called again, I was notified that I was the second caller, again, third caller, again, fourth caller, again, fifth caller: I won the prize. The host and I had a moment to consider that he and I were the only ones on line!!!!! NHPR (I still call it WEVO) has come a long way. I like many of the changes, but why repeat Saturday and Sunday afternoons, do you really want us long standing members returning to GBH on Sundays????
But, all things considered, you are doing a great job.
Ed McMonagle

space

My family has been in Durham for 101 years, and in 1986 when I returned from a stint in California, I found a very different state than the one I'd left 8 years earlier. Berlin was one of the largest cities in the state and paper industry was driving the economy of the North Country. On the Seacoast, Pease was shutting down, the Seabrook nuclear plant was coming on line, and the future of the Seacoast was in serious doubt. What a difference a couple of decades makes. Now the Seacoast is one big cool, chic, boomtown and Berlin's future is the one that's in doubt. Just goes to show you how much can change.

When I learned to drive here, you could get from Durham to Portsmouth in about 20 minutes. Now traffic makes that impossible except in the middle of the night.
On the other hand, when my uncle got cancer, he had to drive 3 hours to Dartmouth Hitchcock for treatment. When I got cancer, I had most of my treatment at Wentworth Douglas in Dover, 15 minutes from my house.
When I was growing up here, lobster was ordinary, but fresh fruit in winter was unheard of. Now I can serve fresh mangoes and jicama 12 months a year, but I only serve lobsters on special occasions.
I was told growing up that if I wanted a career, I'd have to go to Boston or New York. In fact,thanks to the Internet and broadband, I created my career here in New Hampshire, and am creating more careers for people in Berlin.
Two decades ago, when I moved back to New Hampshire, I started listening to WEVO because it was the best source of news I could find, but I had to put up with a lot of classical music to get the news. Now I get news and information for the whenever I want it. (In the interest of transparency, I was honored to serve on the board when we voted to make the transition from music to news.)

But one thing I've learned about this state is just how much difference individuals can make.
One of the few complaints I can make about your 25 in 25 series is that there are only 4 women on your list. In my experience it is the women of New Hampshire who have had some of the biggest impact. Nancy Carmer's efforts in Portsmouth enabled many businesses, including mine, to move to Portsmouth and thrive -- and laid the foundation for today's Seacoast renaissance. Now, 20 years later, women like Kathy Eneguess and Rachael Stuart are doing the same thing now for the North Country.
In politics, Dudley Dudley, Carol Shea Porter and Sylvia Larsen and Bev Hollingworth have all had huge impact on the way politics is done, not just in the state but in the country.
And, personally, I think the women of NHPR, like Laura Knoy and Betsy Gardella will ultimately have as much impact on the future of our state as any of those guys you picked.