DON McCORMACK
You know the old saying, “time flies when you’re having fun?”
It sure does.
It’s kind of difficult for me to fathom, but I’ve spent more than half of my life sitting here at this desk.
When the clock struck midnight Monday, I began my 24th year here at the Star Beacon.
Believe it or not, on Nov. 9, 1986, I darkened the doors of this newspaper as an employee for the first time. That came on the heels of nine hours of interviews over the course of two days.
I had spent six years at The Gazette in Jefferson, which was a twice-a-week publication in those days, before I needed a change and took a position as assistant manager at First Row Video, a building that is now occupied by Carpet Store & More, owned and operated by Steve and Debbie Spang.
I had been there a month when Darrell Lowe, then the managing editor of the Star Beacon, called me and said, “What the (heck) are you doing there?!”
The next night, I was here for the first round of interviews and the rest, shall they say, is history.
In those 24 years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many good people here in the sports department.
When I started, Karl Pearson was the man in charge, so whatever complaints you have about me and my performance through the years, please feel free to blame them on Karl.
The rest of the staff at that time included Chris Larick, Marty Gitlin, Ed Puskas and the late great Mike Scully.
Chris is now retired, and he and wife Sally love spending time with their kids and grandkids, though Chris is still a regular contributor on these pages.
Marty, he of the amazing (OK, off the wall) sense of humor, has published two children’s books with food characters in the lead roles and still does some freelance writing.
Ed has been the sports editor of the Tribune Chronicle for several years now.
As is inevitable, there has been some turnover through the years as changes happen for one reason or another.
Craig Muder came on and eventually took over as sports editor, I began a two-year tenure as special-sections editor and Aaron Dorksen came aboard to take my place on the sports staff.
In 1997, Scully retired, Dorksen moved on and I rejoined the sports staff, which also included Tom Harris by that point. Dorksen is now the sports editor of the Daily Record in Wooster and Tom is retired, though like Chris Larick, still a regular contributor on these pages.
Muder, who is now a honcho with the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown, moved on to take a position on the sports staff in Utica, N.Y. in December, 1997 and after an interim period, I was named sports editor in February, 1998. Warren Dillaway served for a brief time on the sports staff, then moved back onto the news side.
At that point, I hired John Kampf, who joined us after spending several years at The Gazette. Karl, Chris, Tom, John and myself combined to form the sports staff at that point.
When John left us to join the News-Herald, where he remains to this day, James Johnson was given the challenge of trying to fill his big shoes. When Larick retired, Bob Ettinger threw his hat into the ring and became a fulltimer after spending a few years as a correspondent.
Tom retired and Johnson departed and headed to sunny Florida. That provided an opening for Adam Raeder, who joined us in June of 2008, but whose position became a victim of the deplorable economic times in October of that year.
Fortunately, Adam landed on his feet, having graduated from the University of Wisconsin. He has gone back to school and is getting his education degree at Cleveland State University. On top of that, “Doogie,” as he was so dubbed by none other than Steve “Skipper” Urchek for his remblance to the television character, Doogie Howser, is back as a contributor to these pages. (As is the case with Larick and Harris, he can never escape).
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention some of the terrific correspondents, whose names have appeared alongside the rest of ours for several years. Guys such as Slingin’ Steve Goldman, Rich Kelly, Bruce McClimans and Jon “Little Red Man” Hall have been with us for many a year now and are dependable, loyal gentleman who represent us so very well.
Then there’s Dale Sunderlin, whose weekly contributions to us as our outdoors beat writer fills a much-needed role for us.
The aforementioned Lowe taught me a ton and is still the best writer and design person I’ve worked with. He and his wife, Debra, have moved to Columbus.
I’ve worked for three publishers — Ron Mason, Ed Looman and Jim Frustere — and I’m so grateful to Looman for taking a chance on me as sports editor 11 years ago and Frustere for keeping me around when he took over.
Along those lines, please say a word for Neil Frieder. That poor guy has had the arduous task of being my boss for all of 24 years here and has helped to teach me that the first response — usually one done out of emotion — is rarely the best response. He has helped me to come to learn to pick my battles, so to speak, something I attempt to remember every time I open a letter, listen to a voice mail or read an email.
In the editorial department, only Pearson, Frieder, Nicki Wilpula and the Conneaut twins — Mark Todd and Bob Lebzelter (they share the same hairline, too) — have been here longer than myself.
In this day and age of economic strife, a crisis that has doomed so many in my vocation, I consider myself oh so very fortunate to be where I am and doing what I do. Both are choices I’ve made and I have no professional regrets.
How many people can be so blessed?
As I tip off my 24th year here at the Star Beacon, please know, Loyal Readers, how much I appreciate you. The fact you still respond to my many requests for your stories or feelings and the feedback I receive — be it positive or negative — means this newspaper is still important to you... that you still care.
And what’s important to me, Loyal Readers — that you know even after all these years, I do, too.
McCormack is the sports editor of the Star Beacon. Reach him at donmac@suite224.net.
