So it’s been 49 years since I first put pen to paper professionally. Actually it was an old Smith Carona portable typewriter and then a beat up old Underwood. I was a senior at Georgia State University writing free-lance articles. Then shortly afterwards I began my newspaper career.

So now I wind it down, having adapted to major changes in this industry, beginning with the old hot-type lead ingot printing, which wasn’t that far removed from the Gutenberg press, then on to offset printing, computers and their many advances and then off-site printing with digital components.

Effective March 1, I will officially retire as editor and publisher of The Moultrie Observer, passing the torch on to a younger set of newspaper people who, like me, love their community and will serve you with high energy, dedication and integrity. There are some good folks here at The Observer. There always have been.

 I’ve enjoyed 46 years covering the good people and events of  the Moultrie and Colquitt County community. It’s been a good run. But it’s time to begin a new chapter in my life along with my wife Libby, who I met in the first grade and deserves a medal for putting up with me all these years.

I’m not quite sure what this new era will involve, but we plan to continue living here in Moultrie and being a part of a vibrant community.

I’ve had the pleasure of training many young reporters and watching them spread their wings and move on to bigger challenges in this and related fields. And I’m incredibly honored to have been only the fourth editor of  The Observer since its inception in 1894. Though I was tempted by offers from large metro papers along the way, I found that community journalism was where my heart was, and South Georgia was in my blood.

To me, community journalism is what one might call a “direct-drive” occupation. I’ve always found it fulfilling as well as challenging to work in a newspaper where my front door opened up on Main Street, and the people and events I wrote about were just a few steps away. Rewarding and humbling.

I began writing my personal column back in 1987. My effort was to stay away from the hard-core political commentary but rather offer perspectives on common everyday things with a lighter theme when possible. I found that it provided me with considerable interaction with the public, something I have thoroughly enjoyed. And I hope that at times I provided some food for thought on a wide variety of subjects.

During this great adventure I’ve found that there is much more that binds us than separates us.  One of my favorite comments on this journey came from a fellow who, after reading one of my columns,  said, “It seems like we went to different schools together.”

I’ve met a lot of good people while serving in this industry.  Many of us have become good friends, and I’m pretty sure I’ve ruffled a few feathers along the way, which is not uncommon in this industry. But I can assure you no malice was ever intended.

Hopefully as we grow older, we grow wiser. And as I have  interacted with a broad cross section of this community, I appreciate the knowledge that has been passed my way by the many people who want nothing but the best for our community. I cherish such relationship and will never take it for granted.

In closing I uplift the importance of a community newspaper. I feel it’s crucial for a healthy exchange of ideas and the promotion of what’s good for a community.

So have a great day and see you at the coffee shop!