Tue
Mar 11 2025
10:20 pm

I’ve been writing for sport and name recognition since sixth grade or so. You might think I’d improve with time, but I was just as good then as now. Sarah Simpson (for whom the teachers learning center was named) was my English teacher two of three years at Halls High School. She found no humor or irony in my critiques of the Latin/geometry teacher or the pompous school administration. Red slashes bloodied my offerings. And I kept writing.


continued...

I applied three times to work at the old Knoxville Journal:

  • Guy Lincoln Smith Jr., legendary editor, said he needed someone older than 16. “But I got here as soon as I could drive!”
  • Dick Evans, interim after Smith died, said the paper already had a woman. “We have to hire reporters we can send to hotels at night to interview visiting dignitaries,” was the gist of his rejection.
  • Bill Childress, young new editor, hired me on the spot after throwing a pile of press releases my way that I quickly typed into crisp summaries written like every other story in the Journal. And why not? I had been practicing since sixth grade.

Doug Price (Journal photographer who went on to found Knoxville Printers, Bargain Mart and HP Videos) and I bought the Shopper in 1971. I sold it to E.W. Scripps in 2005. Fired by Gannett in 2017, I started KnoxTNToday.com. And I sold it to Susan Espiritu in mid-2024. I’m under contract to compile obituary links and community news for KTT, but Susan doesn’t want political opinions. Since that’s sort of what I do, I emailed Bubba. And for the grand ol’ sum of $zero$, I’m in.

This is no time to be silent. Think I’ll keep writing.

Treehouse's picture

Great!

Welcome and I'm glad you're here.

R. Neal's picture

Welcome! Make good trouble!

Welcome! Make good trouble!

Sandra Clark's picture

Thanks

for the welcome. We'll test your tolerance for a mountain Republican.

Bill Lyons's picture

Great news. Thanks!

I've been here ever since the South Knox Rodeo days with Ms. and Mr. Bubba. I found Knoxviews to be a great place to get into things like downtown, Market Square, tax increment financing, South Waterfront, permanent supporting house and all the topics that folks (surprise surprise) were skeptical about, maybe wanted more info, or maybe just to say something was a dumb idea. Remember #9. It was quite a journey.

For a number of reasons, I've moved from the KnoxViews playing field to tbe bleachers. I've always followed you,Sandra, whether at the Shopper, KTT, etc. I have learned a lot from you, and from Betty,over the years turned to decades and appreciate your keeping the flame of discourse lit.

jmcnair's picture

Welcome

Looking forward to your contributions.

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