I’ve been a big supporter of the companies I’ve worked for throughout my career. I worked my ass off for these companies. I’ve sacrificed for these companies. I believed in these companies. I believed in the people working their asses off side by side with me. I’ve defended and sometimes even been a public face for them.

I believed in the mission these companies stood for and provided to the communities I lived in. I was proud and honored to work at each of them. I gave it my all, well most days, nobody’s perfect. I worked with the most inspiring people. I worked with the most talented people. I worked with the most respected people. I worked for some great leaders, publishers, editors, writers, photographers, technicians, and every other person who supports and makes a news organization run.

I have great respect for those behind the scenes and in the production and support areas that keep those news machines moving 24/7/365. Without fail, without pause, regardless of conditions, with ingenuity, with guile, with dedication.

I never believed when I started in the mid-70s that the profession of local and national journalism would be mistrusted, despised, and hated. But coming out of that 2000-2008 timeframe and depression the dynamic changed. And continued to this day. 

I feel like I was kind of blessed to work in the era I did, with the people I did, with the companies I did. Today is my last day with The Washington Post. And formerly of Zip Publishing, Patuxent Publishing, and Stromberg Publishing. Almost 5 decades flew by in the blink of an eye. And yes I did enjoy the journey. And a special thanks to all those I encountered along the way for all the laughs and successes at the same time.

So tomorrow I’ll be working for the company of my better half, my children and grandchildren, my friends, and of course here at TME. I might be retiring from Newspaper Publishing but I hope to be publishing for a long time to come both here and in other spots. Professionally who knows what’s ahead?