Eddie Dwyers' final buzzer

Eddie Dwyer left this to his friends:

Subject: The final buzzer Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2006 12:35 AM
To all of my colleagues, let me say how proud I have always been to
be able to say I was part of you.
After nearly 37 years in the sports department I covered my last
game tonight (Friday) for a newspaper I have loved since I was 7.
I hope this New Year and all of the years to come brings you an
abundance of success and happiness, as the kids and coaches I covered
over the many seasons did for me.
Have a wonderful holiday season and, to those in the newsroom and
sports department who gave me a warm sendoff to my game earlier tonight,
you will never know how much it meant to me.
THANK YOU, Eddie Dwyer.

More leavings

Friday, Dec. 18 was a busy, bittersweet day. Diane Griggs, Steve Talbott and Rosemary Kovacs`
left the building. Standing O's all around.
It was weird and sad.

Gary Webb Scholarship Fund

Gary Webb's friends sent this along. Webb was a reporter downtown and in Columbus before he left for the West Coast.

Dear Journalists and Friends,

My family,Gary's mother Anita,brother Kurt,children Ian,Eric,Christine,and I are writing you today with a request to help honor my husband Gary Webb.As you might know Gary died tragically December 9th 2004,at age 49.I have been searching for an appropriate way to remember and honor him,paying tribute to his great love for journalism.

The University of Missouri School of Journalism,with the help of faculty member Steve Weinberg,former executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors has offered to host an annual scholarship fund for a promising young student of journalism.I can think of no better way to honor Gary,to reinforce his journalistic values,and to celebrate the successes he enjoyed during his career. My children and I would participate in helping to select the student;this is something to which we are all very much looking forward to as a way of remembering Gary.

We need to raise $10,000 for the scholarship to be self-perpetuating.To all you journalists,I know that your salaries can be tight,but I hope you will consider a donation to honor Gary's spirit. This scholarship is a way to help others,so that maybe a little bit of good can come from a terrible sadness.

If you are interested,please write a check to the University of Missouri-Columbia,and add to the memo line "Gary Webb Fund."
Send the gift to:
Catey Terry,M.A.
Director of Development
Missouri School of Journalism
102 Neff Hall Columbia,MO 65211-1200

Thank you very much for considering this request,and please don't hesitate to send this email along to someone who knew Gary,or cared about his work.

Sincerely,Susan Bell Webb

Ellers' note

Any buy-outer who did not get a post card invitation to get on the PD alumni lunch club, send an email to the mail list keeper: Dick Ellers at GeeRichard@aol.com

Bill Sloat's goes public

Bill Sloat, down in Cincy, has a blog. Try it: http://thebellwetherdaily.blogspot.com

Check out the photos

For some photos from the Big Farewell Bash check out http://flickr.com/photos/rosebud

There is a set of photos from the party. you can click on and do the slideshow or go through the photos individually.

Strang's farewell

On Nov. 22, 2006, Editorial writer Jim Strang walked out the door. Here is his farewell note:

Friends:

I was going to write a thank-you note for the fine going-away party last week, and I truly enjoyed that bash.

But then I got to thinking: I've been enjoying a party here at Ohio's Largest for 33 fun-filled years, rubbing minds daily with some of the finest people ever to grace our craft.

George Condon. Chuck Heaton. Hal Lebowitz. Jim Flanagan. Bob Daniels. Lou Mio, who was so instrumental in getting me hired back in 73. Chris Jindra, Dave Molyneaux and the days of the Swamp. Don Bean. E.J. Kissell. John P. Coyne. Bob McAuley, who helped me back out of a barful of angry, drunk truck drivers during that strike in '74. Bob Snyder. Dennis Ryerson. Bob Stock. Ray Osrin. Mary Anne Sharkey. All my colleagues here on the editorial page -- and even Brent Larkin. The list of wonderful people goes on and on; the song the presses sang every night will never end.

But I won't be singing along with those engines of truth and justice any more. My band is off to its next gig. I pray you remember me as fondly as I will remember you. I'll see your work, if not your faces, every day, and I expect to see great things.

My love and admiration to you all

Jim Strang

Hortator@centurytel.net

-30-

Jo Ann Pallant, who left about two weeks ago, has this message for everyone:

HOLIDAY BOOK SALE

To the 64 buyout people: if you have already left the building, you are invited to attend the Holiday Book Sale this year. It is Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and half-price Thursday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon.


She was escorted out of The PD with flowers and friends and a standing ovation.