It’s hard to believe it’s been 12 months since I penned (pecked) my first column in this space.

It’s been a really tremendous experience as president of Texas Press Association, something I would not trade for anything.

And that speaks for this profession as well.

The presidency of TPA has allowed me and my family the chances to meet with, play with, worry with, grieve with and laugh with the finest group of professionals in this state and this country.

TPA has allowed me the opportunity to stay in some of the finest hotels in the finest cities, both in Texas and elsewhere. We were treated to the skylines of Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Denver, New York City, Washington, D.C., Oklahoma City and Nashville. Each held a different place in time for us and each will remain memories to treasure.

Through TPA and the regionals, I have butchered some of the finest golf courses designed by some of the great names. Courses in San Antonio, Possum Kingdom, The Woodlands, Arlington, Canyon, Georgetown, and on and on. I endured some of the most biting winds and some of the most deadly heat. I played briefly in lightning and was drenched in rain. Toward the end, old bones and fading muscles have screamed out in protest. But through it all, we had a blast, despite many less-than-bragable scores.

We’ve traded ideas, made a few of them work to our advantage and failed miserably at others. But even the failures were steps forward. We found our own personal limitations, we set higher goals, we achieved more. The minds of the newspaper people of this state are extraordinary and we ’re so glad we were able to share some of that with them over not only this past special year, but the years before and the years to come.

Because of our location near the center of the state, air travel, for the most part, was not a real option, so we put miles on the vehicle. This, too, was a blessing. As we travelled the state, we got the opportunity to see your towns. We finally got to put places with the faces, personalities with the landscape and both with the newspaper.

We could see your personalities in your communities many times. We wondered many times, “Is this community progressive as a result of its newspaper, or is the newspaper progressive in response to the community? Or is it a great working relationship between both? ”

Many times we would carry along our Texas Highways magazine in hopes of scoping out one or more of the remarkable things they reveal about this state. However, more times than not, we just found the stuff ourselves and took great enjoyment out of saying: “I know old-so-and-so who runs the paper here.” And that would always strike up a conversation.

And I would be remiss if I did not mention the TPA office staff. Pauline has kept me punctual and correct, and, thankfully, not afraid to point out my mistakes or question my remarks. Ed has, as we all know, been a remarkably reliable source of information and help. Ken has patiently handled our advertising problems, more often than not caused by ourselves, always with a smile on his face. Lolly has provided office information and direction, plus a smiling face and always the kind word. Mike has been the backstop for all the problems we ’ve encountered during the past 12 months, never letting a ball through. He’s blocked most of the wild pitches, dug a bunch out of the dirt and kept right on going. Then there ’s always-friendly and patient Patty, who finally, I think, began to recognize my voice when I called, but not before I started telling her it was me on the other end of the line.

Of course, there are many others throughout the building who I did not have routine dealings with and they deserve a great big thanks, too. They are a kind of glue that allows Mike and the others to do their job and I thank them for their behind-the-scenes help this year.

When it is all said and done, folks outside this profession will see only a few words in an obituary about this past year. But in reality, it has been much, much more. It has been kinda like that Ohio State Dot-the-I Tuba Player. It ’s a sort of exclamation point on a professional career. I thank you for giving me these past 12 months. I thank each of you for your support and pledge mine to you when you come this way.

Thanks.

And here’s where the final 30-dash comes into play.