Over the past 45 years, I have worked a handful of different jobs, but I’ve never been as thrilled about a hire as when John Miller called and offered me the Lifestyles Editor position at the Exponent Telegram.

 

It was so up my alley – a dream job – for someone who loved writing and life!

 

That was about 23 years ago. I had been working as a marketing associate for the United Way of Harrison County and had become associated with the Exponent Telegram through another telephone conversation with John Miller. I had begun the job with no training and no trainer and was sifting through files and boxes to get an idea of what my job entailed. I stumbled upon a stack of newspaper articles which the former United Way director had written to promote the agencies under the United Way umbrella. With newspaper in hand, I called the Exponent, and my call was connected to John, the managing editor. I told him who I was and asked if I could begin writing a column about United Way. He said, “Write something up and send it over and we’ll see.”

 

The United Way column was established and soon, John asked if I would be interested in doing some additional writing for the newspaper. My first freelance assignments were the Blue Gold Reunion in Philippi  and the Grafton Memorial Day Parade featuring a clog dancing-Gov. Bob Wise. Fast forward a couple of years and the full-time position was offered. I was in Heaven.

 

Writing about health, entertainment, fashion, holidays, home décor and such was my jam. John really let me be creative about my feature ideas and some of them were a stretch.

 

The people I met and the places I visited were memorable to say the least.

I worked with some individuals who I looked up to and who helped me hone my skills and some just really good human beings. When I took the job, my youngest son Jacob was just a toddler and we both had some separation anxiety. John let me bring him to the newsroom once in a while. He played with his Matchbox cars under my desk.

 

Our family also had a connection with John through Babe Ruth Baseball. He was state commissioner during the years that our oldest son Jeffrey played. That gave him and my husband a great topic of conversation. We also talked church and music and our common love for Christian music. John, himself, was a talented musician and played drums for a praise band.

 

John came in and out of the newsroom at all hours of the day and night. I know this because one summer, he let me work nights so I could spend the days with the kids. It seemed he was there as much during night hours as he was during the day. 

 

After a decade or so, I left the Exponent to work full-time for the City of Bridgeport. John and the rest of the management staff were supportive of my move. I wrote for them on-and-off for a few years after I left. I eventually ended up working for Connect-Bridgeport and ultimately with two of my Exponent co-workers, Jeff Toquinto and Chris Johnson. Mine and Chris’s desks were right beside each other in the newsroom and Jeff – who ran Bridgeport News – stopped in the newsroom regularly.

 

When I started in the workforce 45 years ago as a legal secretary, I never imagined I would become a writer. John Miller saw potential and it changed my professional life. Under his employment, I received some helpful corrective criticism but also praise and encouragement. People we meet along the way have big impact. Thank you, John, for the impact you had on mine. 

 

An award-winning journalist and media icon, John passed unexpectedly last week at the age of 62. His family said he was at his desk in the newsroom.