Virginia Prine retires from Times-Review after 28 years

Virginia Prine recently retired after 28 years in advertising at the Cleburne Times-Review. She is convinced sales are what you make them.

Perhaps life is that way, too.

There’ve been many joys in winning sales, Virginia admits.

But there have been remarkable changes in her life that resulted from a 150-pound weight loss.

At Virginia’s retirement reception at the Liberty Hotel, her sister asked me if I liked the punch. “It’s Indian tea,” she said.

It was delicious. Sensing that she had made it, I asked her for the recipe to share with you. (See sidebar on page B4)

Virginia told me that Eugenia “Jean,” her oldest sister, had been like a mother to her and her sister, Mary, when their mother was sick in Virginia’s early childhood.

“Eugenia got us ready for school and helped Daddy do the cooking. For a few years until Mother got better, Eugenia was like our second mother.”

Perhaps she still is, I decided. Mary Jenkins has had a recent serious illness, and Eugenia traveled from Seymour to stay with her.

She’s also been at Virginia’s bedside more than once. In fun times, the three enjoyed a cruise to the Mexico, escaping right before Hurricane Ike hit.

Virginia was born in Orange County, Calif, to Billie and Virgie Reed.

When she was a baby her family moved to Frost, where her father worked for Lone Star Gas.

She began school at Frost, attending first and second grades. Then the family moved to Crowley.

At the beginning of the seventh grade the family moved to Cleburne.

“In 1958, my dad got a job with the Cleburne Water Department. When I entered Fulton Junior High School I found that most of the kids had started first grade together and had longtime friendships. It was a very difficult adjustment for me.

“I remember how kind Beverly [Martin] Archer and the late Gay [Geison] Langford were to me. They made me feel more comfortable, and I’ll always be grateful to them.”

Virginia graduated from Cleburne High School in three years.

“It wasn’t what I chose to do. My sister, Mary, was attending summer school sessions and Mother wanted me to go with her so I wouldn’t be home alone. So, I graduated in 1963.”

Their mother worked at Ben Franklin’s and Virginia enjoyed working the Christmas holidays there. She was aware she enjoyed helping people find what they wanted.

Her life changed in April 1966, when she met Travis Prine at the Dairy Queen in Cleburne.

He had returned home from serving in the Army from 1961-64, in Frankfurt, Germany, and was employed by the Cleburne Police Department.

“The water department was right behind the police department, and Travis knew Daddy,” Virginia said. “We struck up a conversation, and he asked me if I would like to go out the next night. I agreed.”

Their first date was April 29, 1966. He asked her to marry him on May 13. They married virtually two months after they met, July 1, at St. Paul Methodist Church.

“Nobody thought it would last. We had our 43rd wedding anniversary this year,” she said with a smile.

Virginia said her ability to sell helped her do well with Sarah Coventry jewelry parties from 1975-80.

“Travis’ mother, Billie Prine, lived with us for 23 years. I could leave our boys, Quincy and Pat, with her and hold jewelry parties on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.”

Virginia read that the Johnson County News needed someone for advertising sales. Her confidence had been boosted by the jewelry sales, so she applied for the job.

“I worked for Don Goforth there from November 1980 until March 1981, when I was offered a job with the Times-Review by Paul Griffith and the new ad manager, Bill Rice. Kay Helms had come on board the month before. She and I remain close friends.”

Helms is now the publisher of the Times-Review, and Rice, its previous publisher, has recently returned to the advertising department.

“When we needed someone to step up and help us sell, Virginia was always the one who led the way,” said Helms. “Virginia had a way of approaching her customers and getting them to see what they could benefit from advertising with the newspaper.

“Salespeople are in it to make a living, but Virginia went beyond that. She really appreciated her customers and their commitment to her and the Times-Review. She was well known in the community as a representative of the newspaper, but she and I also started together back in 1981. We had a workplace bond, of course, but we also had a friendship from the first time we came to work together.”

Virginia said she has seen many technical changes in newspaper publishing.

“When I first came, there were no computers. Everything was type-set. The copy came out on a long strip; it was waxed and cut, and the ads were laid out. They were placed on layout paper; the news copy was put around it; and it was sent to the camera room to be shot. Plates were made for the press, and the press ran the paper, all on-site.”

She said the copier was a great improvement for advertising.

“And the fax machine. They were wonderful. The customer could often submit the advertising exactly like they wanted it. However, some still wanted you to pick it up and bring it back to them for approval. That was fine. I enjoyed people and working closely with them.”

In 1985, Virginia went to school and earned a real estate license.

“I sold real estate after 5 p.m. and weekends. James and Linda Wright took me in when they had their Wright Realty. I enjoyed the field.”

She and Travis moved to Granbury in 2000 for a while.

“We realized that life on the lake was not what we really wanted. We missed Cleburne and came home.”

Virginia’s health had declined, and she faced multiple life-threatening illnesses.

“I was obese. I was a severe diabetic, with severely high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I had to do something,” she said.

She found a way to lose 150 pounds.

“On Friday, April 13, 2001, I had a gastric bypass. My stomach was cut in two, making a pouch. The pouch was connected to my small intestines, with an entry into the stomach the size of my little finger,” she said.

She was walking the next day in the hospital. But the recovery was not easy.

“On Memorial Day I took Virginia back to the emergency room with kidney failure,” Travis said

“Even though I was in the hospital for eight days I never did have to go on dialysis. I recovered,” Virginia said.

At Virginia’s 40th CHS reunion, many people didn’t recognize her, she said. Her weight loss earned her the honor of “Most Changed” by her classmates.

There is no need for insulin now. There is no sleep apnea, and her blood pressure medication has been reduced in half.

She eats small amounts frequently instead of three meals a day. She has maintained more than a 100-pound weight loss.

“Whenever we go out to eat, Travis and I share a dinner,” she said. “If I eat lunch with the girls they know I will share with them.”

Their sons, Quincy Prine of Cleburne, and Pat Prine of Granbury, work together in Cleburne. Quincy owns Prine Towing and Recovery and All Pro Automotive. Pat manages the automotive department. There are two grandchildren, Reed and Morgan Prine of Cleburne.

Virginia is recovering from back surgery. Travis hopes she will be able to travel to St. Louis for the reunion of his Army 709 MP Battalion.

“There was absolutely no better job for me,” she said about working for the paper. “I didn’t have to commute to the Metroplex, and I got to help people. I truly believe that sales can be whatever you make it.”

She paused. “I was taught growing up that you give all that you have. Sometimes you don’t have it to give, but you still try.”

Larue Barnes may be reached at laruebarnes@yahoo.com.

Side bar

Jean Slaggle’s recipe for Indian tea

32 servings

Mix together and bring to a boil:

1 quart water

1 pint sugar

1 cup lemon juice

Add one cup strong, brewed tea

2 tsp. almond extract

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Chill. When ready to serve add 2 liters of any chilled lemon lime soda