After 39 years with
the
Beacon Journal, Kathy Fraze, writer, editor, teacher called it
quits.
The staffers paid
tribute
to her with a video that recalled how she had been so helpful to
each....recalling how she had saved their butts more than once
from
mistakes that could have been embarrassing for paper and
reporter had
they appeared in print.
One staffer said Kathy
had taught his journalism class at Kent State and then hired him
later on.
Editor Bruce Winges
read
off a list of her accomplisments and positions she has held over
the
years.
She received several
gifts, including a picnic basket filled with goodies for her
trip to
Ireland and an engraved cake knife. Of course there was a cake.
And I think she summed
up
what we all feel when leaving a place that has been our life for
so
many years...the people you work with and the comradely therein
She cited an incident
in
1980 when folks showed up only to find the lifeline of the paper
was
on the blink...the telephone system.
A telephone repairman
was called and while he yanked a wire here and there, the staff
discussed the latest murders and other stories that came to mind
to
pass the time since this was before the new electronic age of
cell
phones and the internet.
The repairman looked
up
from his work and said: “Boy, what a great place! I”d love to
work here.”
In addition to the
staff,
two retirees were present to welcome her into the retiree
ranks...Mike Needs and Tom Moore. Both worked closely with her
over
the years and sure agree to the praise the staff had for a great
newswoman.
Happy retirement,
Kathy.
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