Six years ago this week just about the nicest person I've ever known passed away after a long battle with esophageal cancer. I used to call Tom Woody the Times-News unpaid intern for life because he spent so much time in our newsroom helping his longtime spouse, newspaper administrator and columnist Frances Woody with any … Continue reading Remembering the nicest person I’ve ever known
Happy birthday James Madison, a believer in open government
Today (Friday March 16) is the birthday of James Madison, a primary architect of the U.S. Constitution and the fourth president of the United States. He is one of those "Founding Fathers" folks in politics are fond of referencing repeatedly -- usually after they symbolically spit upon what the Founding Fathers espoused. Yeah, the United … Continue reading Happy birthday James Madison, a believer in open government
Newspaper memories: One and done at the 1986 ACC Tournament
March 7, 1986: I kept telling myself not to be nervous on the short drive from Burlington to Greensboro. It wasn’t working. Stupid I know. After all, I was only going to a basketball game -- well, four basketball games really. No big deal. Not at all. I got up early that Friday morning after … Continue reading Newspaper memories: One and done at the 1986 ACC Tournament
The day I officially rescinded my college team fandom — in legal writing and everything
Last week marked the fourth anniversary of what became a life-altering change in my life. I disowned a sports team I had followed as a drooling and rabid fan from age 8 to 54. And I stuck to it. I dropped it like a bad habit -- cold turkey the way I stopped smoking back … Continue reading The day I officially rescinded my college team fandom — in legal writing and everything
Hopes and dreams for Elon’s future
A little more than a week ago, Dr. Connie Ledoux Book took the reins at Elon University as president. It was historic: She became the first woman to hold the job in Elon's 129-year history. It was a homecoming: Dr. Book was a professor in the School of Communications and then an associate provost before … Continue reading Hopes and dreams for Elon’s future
It’s time to honor legendary musician Joe Thompson who linked past and future
They call it the Joe and Odell Thompson Legacy Project. There is something so right about it. In fact, it might be the rightest thing I've read about in a while. What was presented to Mebane city leaders Monday night and reported in the Burlington Times-News was an overview of the Joe and Odell Thompson … Continue reading It’s time to honor legendary musician Joe Thompson who linked past and future
A pivotal year for Alamance County? No question about it
Today as I read the outstanding start of what will be a series of stories, columns and editorials in the Times-News examining the $150 million school bond issue, I was struck by a sentence in an Opinion page column by Rich Jackson, the executive editor and someone I've come to know a little over the … Continue reading A pivotal year for Alamance County? No question about it
Leo’s lasts, Elon firsts and new beginnings (Includes video)
A little more than a year ago Leo Lambert announced plans to retire as president of Elon University, ending 19 remarkable years guiding a once small regional college to its transformation into a nationally renowned university. On the day his plans were made public, I had worked at Elon barely a month. I … Continue reading Leo’s lasts, Elon firsts and new beginnings (Includes video)
Stuff is brewing in Graham
The best news I read over the past two weeks arrived in this story via The Times-News. The headline reads: Saxapahaw businesses branch out into Graham. The businesses in question were what caught my eye. One is Haw River Farmhouse Ales. The other is a restaurant to be operated by the owners of The Eddy … Continue reading Stuff is brewing in Graham
Throwback Thursday: Tough for rivals to finally acknowledge greatness
Three years ago today a public memorial ceremony was held following the death of retired University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith. I took that occasion to write about growing up in a basketball-crazed area -- North Carolina -- and how it shapes misguided thinking, until it doesn't and common sense takes over. Rivalries … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: Tough for rivals to finally acknowledge greatness
Madison's Avenue 