My one-time newspaper editor and longtime friend Don Bolden had by his own estimation more than 2,000 photos in his possession at the time of his death. They are images of Burlington, Graham, Elon and other points in Alamance County dating to his start in media as a photographer for his high school newspaper just … Continue reading Good homes for Don Bolden’s images of Alamance County
The Little College that Could, eventually did
This is a column I wrote for the Burlington Times-News in August, 2016, before I moved my career from newspapers to writing for higher education at Elon University. I thought about this the other day when the university held an inspirational inaugural week for its ninth president, Dr. Connie Ledoux Book. I remembered writing this … Continue reading The Little College that Could, eventually did
Showing signs of support for the education bonds
This fall marks historic first. I have an election sign in my front yard. That's right, I'm visibly supporting something. It was the easiest decision I've ever made. But this is still uncharted territory. Because I worked in newspapers I always felt such preferential expressions were personally wrong. So I never had a sign endorsing … Continue reading Showing signs of support for the education bonds
A new era of glory for Elon football
Last spring I decided to do something I had never really even considered before: Attend a college spring football game. It was a nice day -- almost summerlike -- so I thought, "why not?" I figured it might be interesting to see the result of spring workouts for the Elon University football team. In all … Continue reading A new era of glory for Elon football
My college years, Brett Kavanaugh, beer, misbehavior and ‘Animal House’
This is about men. This is about Brett Kavanaugh. This is about beer. This is about judgment, or a lack of it. This is about temperament. This is about honesty. This is about privilege and college and the moral compass or gyroscope that keeps polite society functional. This is about different times in our history, … Continue reading My college years, Brett Kavanaugh, beer, misbehavior and ‘Animal House’
On the nose
My glasses didn't break, something of a shock because my nose was very definitely broken, not to mention gouged, gashed and gushing. I looked like Rocky Balboa after about seven rounds with Apollo Creed. And yet, the slim wire-framed glasses remained intact, unbent and unmoved -- as if what occurred directly below it by fractions … Continue reading On the nose
Covering hurricanes has changed but there is still little actual reporting without power
As Sept. 5 careened into Sept. 6 during the North Carolina hurricane summer of 1996, the wind was at locomotive-level decibels outside my father-in-law's home just outside the Swansboro town limits. Tree limbs were snapping like a super-conducting popcorn popper in the back yard. Many limbs skittered across the roof of the house. Rain fell … Continue reading Covering hurricanes has changed but there is still little actual reporting without power
North Carolina underwater, again
When I worked for a newspaper on the North Carolina coast we covered lot of hurricanes, some that ever made landfall at all. We reported about the approach of major storms so people in the Onslow, Carteret and Pender county areas would be well prepared should the storm make landfall. Some of that early storm … Continue reading North Carolina underwater, again
How old are schools in Alamance County?
How old are the schools in Alamance County? Let's start with very, very old and work from there. In fact, at least one is far older than most would believe and the others aren't all that far behind. Think pre-World War I, old. That's old. The last high school was built here 48 years ago. … Continue reading How old are schools in Alamance County?
From the archive: Remembering the tragedy and miracle of Bill Gentry
This would have to be among the last columns I produced in my long newspaper career and it tells the sad and oddly inspiring story of one of the best athletes in Alamance County history whose life was altered by cruel fate. I wrote this on the occasion of the death of Bill Gentry in … Continue reading From the archive: Remembering the tragedy and miracle of Bill Gentry
Madison's Avenue 