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| Jim in his office Thursday, after a day of celebrating his retirement. |
As we wind down from celebration, family and totally awesome Easter dinner, East Manatee Editor Jim Jones is busy in the newsroom, slugging away to get Monday's edition in shape. He volunteered, of course, for the Easter holiday editor gig. Let's see, he started with Easter Sunrise service along the new downtown Riverwalk, and will probably wrap up just around midnight after he checks the last page proof. A mere 18-hour day, give or take a few breaks...
James A. Jones Jr. is going out in style -- his style, and his alone. For today is his last official day with the Bradenton Herald. He humbly announced his retirement in his column this morning, with a lede that took him at least a year to write. That's how much notice he gave me -- a whole year! But I still can't imagine our newsroom without him.
I have never met a kinder, stronger, more sincere man in this business. Jim believes in people –- all shapes, all sizes, all creeds. Everyone. And that’s what makes him such a damned good journalist. He finds a story in every corner, then reports it, writes it, shoots the photos and video, then publishes it to the web and to print. And nowadays, he tweets, builds galleries, posts to Facebook...
For the past 14 years, Jim has led our coverage of East Manatee and Lakewood Ranch and helped define its legacy. And we will continue to emulate the standards he has set for us as editor Jim DeLa takes over and editor Terry O'Connor joins the newsroom.
Jim, you will always be one of my most treasured friends. It has been an honor to work with you for these past 14 years. May your next chapter be as rich as this one has been for all of us.
Joan
1 comment:
I'm not sure that Manatee County realizes what a gift they are losing in Jim's retirement. Knowing Jim, and teasing him (!), was one of my great privileges of serving there. He will be missed.
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