Fielder’s Choice

Change is good, they say.

After walking through the front door of a newspaper office basically every day for 38 years, 21 of those at 157 South Center Street in Holly Springs, I am exiting the business.

This week is my last as editor and publisher of The South Reporter.

A couple of high school teachers sparked my love for writing and steered me toward a career in journalism. It was good advice. I got my start fulltime in 1984 at my hometown newspaper in Alabama, and ink has been in my blood ever since.

It has been an enjoyable, challenging, hectic and rewarding career choice. If I had to do it all over again, I would

I stopped at one of the schools in Holly Springs two weeks ago delivering some newspapers and a kind lady shouted, “Hey, Mr. South Reporter.”

I was talking to a couple of other people last week about me leaving the paper and they were stunned – saying, “You are The South Reporter. The two of you go together.“

Truth is, The South Reporter has been around since 1865, that’s 157 years, and my stay is only a small portion of the newspaper’s rich tradition of service.

Truth is, the newspaper is yours – not mine or anyone else’s who takes the leadership reins. The newspaper belongs to the community it serves.

If you recall anything about the Barry Burleson tenure at your newspaper, I hope it is the all-around coverage from each end of Marshall County to the other.

A quality community newspaper should be a reflection of its entire community.

I hope that is what you’ve seen for 21 years when you bought a newspaper from a news rack or inside a convenience store or received it at your residence.

From Holly Springs High School to Marshall Academy to H.W. Byers to Byhalia and to Potts Camp, the schools have welcomed me with open arms. Most of the time, they even save me a seat. And I never even have to show my press pass. Being at the schools is my favorite of times.

I love the Hawks, Patriots, Lions, Indians and Cardinals - and always will.

I am not leaving Marshall County. I am going to work for Rockwool in the Chickasaw Trail Industrial park as its community relations manager.

It sort of just happened. I believe it was God telling me it was time for a change.

And truth is, in my new role, you will still be seeing me around, maybe even more.

The rest of your newspaper crew – including Barbara, Pam and Sue -- will still be here. And they’re as solid as solid can be when it comes to the newspaper and community. They’re the very best.

From the bottom of my heart, thanks to each and every one of you for supporting your community newspaper. It has been a privilege to fill this role as editor for 21 years.

I received a text from a reader last year during some of my toughest days ever in the newspaper business. It said a lot, all of the content uplifting, and concluded with, “I appreciate the paper.”

Words like those four have kept me going - for 38 years. But for me, at this time in my life, change is going to be good.

God bless!