I have spent the past few
weeks lamenting the loss of a
good friend and colleague. No,
no one in the Mirror family has
passed away, but unfortunately
it feels that way. I'm going to
miss my partner in crime, Elwood
Hamilton.
The first time I met Elwood,
I thought he looked like a skinny
little dork. Then I looked in
the mirror. I have no room to
talk. But we became friends
and found out that we needed
to work together to get the job
done, and I learned quickly
that he had my back.
By contrast, I've known my
editor Jason Smith for many
years. He was the editor of the
Augusta State University student
newspaper, The Bell Ringer,
when I started covering sports
for them. So at least there was
one familiar face in the new
offi ce a year ago.
From the beginning with Elwood
there was no question he
was the kind of guy on which
you could count. And there's
no question his writing and
reporting were among the best
that this area has ever seen.
I think of that old saying:
"imitation is the sincerest form
of fl attery."
Reading Elwood's writing
will always bring that phrase
to mind because I found myself
writing in a similar style to his
on occasion. I hope he learned
as much from me as I learned
from him.
Not to toot my own horn,
but it was the tag team of
"Wood" and "K-Wells" that
uniquely covered McDuffie
County for this past year.
And I'm proud of what he accomplished.
I was just along
for the ride.
In a county that places a high
value on hometown products,
he moved here and fi t in just
like he had lived in McDuffie
County all of his life. He didn't
have the benefi t of growing
up here like Jason and me. I
would like to thank everyone
for embracing Elwood as this
county's own.
I'm glad I got to know him
and work beside him for as
long as I did. I know his new
situation will be good for him
and his wife. I wish them
well.
Now comes the fun part. I'll
be alone in the "newsroom" for
a short time while we look to
fi ll Elwood's position (because
no one could ever replace him).
Soon, I'll have to begin working
with someone new and get
used to another partner.
Things will keep rolling
here at the Mirror; don't worry
about that.
Those of us left will work
just as hard to put out the high
quality stories and pictures this
county has come to love.
Until we fi nd someone to sit
at Elwood's desk, keep us in
your prayers.
Whoever comes behind him
will have some pretty big shoes
to fill.
