Back in 1924, Stanley Walker of The New York Herald-Tribune wrote a short blurb on what makes a good journalist. Stuff you’d expect: He knows everything, he doesn’t need any sleep, he has charm, men admire him, women adore him and — oh yeah — he’s handsome.
But it was the last line that caught my attention:
“When he dies, a lot of people are sorry, and some of them remember him for several days.”
For several days? That’s it?
I suspect most of us want to believe we’ve left such a lasting impression that when we leave, a black hole will develop over our empty desk and nothing will survive.
So though I left the editor’s role a couple of weeks ago, reality — and history — tells me The Columbian will do great without me.