50+ Lifestyles

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

Thirty-Five Year Celebration

By Eloise Graham

This year, 50+ Lifestyles celebrates 35 years of publication.

In 1987, Russ Myers of Bettendorf thought there should be a publication geared for the aging population. Sure, there was AARP the Magazine, but that was a national publication. Russ envisioned something local with local stories, concerns and possibilities. So he started the publication 50+ Lifestyles. His advertisers and contributors included all aspects of health and health issues for those over age fifty. There were articles from many of the senior living facilities in the area. There were only a hand full thirty-five years ago. But as the Baby Boomers became Seniors, there was suddenly an onslaught of new retirement and senior living facilities springing up everywhere.

Besides the Quad Cities the territory covered went from Muscatine to Milan to Maquoketa, Geneseo to Galena, Savanna to Silvis. His publication included a Wordgame and recipe sharing page, poetry and other musings, advice from Social Security and other government pages, medical and well-being advice, help with home care or rehabilitation.

After twenty years, he started thinking about retiring (and fishing! Many of his articles were about fishing) and selling his business . About the same time, my husband Jim was thinking about what he would like to do in his “retirement” years. Jim knew Russ and was familiar with the publication. Jim had a minor in journalism and knew about advertising and selling so he thought purchasing this business might be a good fit. I on the other hand knew nothing of journalism, bookkeeping, billing or selling. I didn’t even know how to use a computer. Jim and Russ negotiated, and Russ assured me he could teach me “computer usage 101.”

Russ Myers, founder of 50+ Lifestyles

In 2008, we purchased the magazine business from Russ and our first solo publication was July of that year. Jim and I did everything ourselves except for the layout and printing.

However, in July of 2009, Jim passed away. I tried to do both his job and my job, but after about 14 months was falling behind. I dissolved my LLC, and a new one was formed. Three local businessmen, Mike Mickle, David Deuth and Dan Adams, and I formed a new LLC.

We could see the vision that Russ had had for a Senior publication and wanted it to continue. By now there were more Senior magazines available to the public. We kept ours all local with local interests, information and stories.

Then in 2017, Mike, David and Dan, sold their shares of the LLC to Kari and Roby Smith.

Through the years, there have been changes to the format and the way the content is laid out, but one thing hasn’t changed, our desire to put out a quality publication with top-notch stories, information and entertainment. We feel fortunate to have you as our loyal readers, fortunate that we weathered the pandemic and are still operating. Thirty-five years is something to celebrate in this business and we have you to thank for that.

So please enjoy this issue and continue to help us make it to the next milestone.