At the Beacon Journal you could tell what kind of a day Tom Moore was having when he was the newsroom makeup man by counting the number of “Goddammits.”

Well, I’m guessing that, on his wedding anniversary on Friday, April 14, Tom changed it to “Hot, damn, we made it to 66!”

Daughter Amy Moore saw it from a different viewpoint: “How blessed and lucky am I to have amazing parents that are celebrating 66 years of marriage!!!!”

Tom and Minnesotan Dot were married in the naval communications chapel in Washington, D.C. Tom was in the Air Force at Bolling Air Force Base in D.C. and editor of the base newspaper.

Tom's 41-year newspaper career was on the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Zanesville News (now defunct), Lorain Journal, Columbus Citizen-Columbus Citizen Journal (both defunct) and the BJ. Plus four years part-time in the Ohio State Patrol headquarters in Columbus, editing the patrol's magazine,The Flying Wheel.

After his retirement from Ol’ Blue Walls, Tom didn’t go off the rails. He went on them, as a conductor for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Dot often made treats for the passengers that she handed to Tom for special delivery.

Beginning in 2004, Tom headed for Fort Myers, Florida in October to publish a daily newspaper for the Roy Hobbs Baseball World Series for older players run by former BJ sports editor Tom Giffen, who took that show to Fort Myers three decades ago.

Richmond, Virginia native Tom was adopted by Spotswood and Virgina Moore in Tazewell, Virginia.

Tom and Dot have four children, including three daughters who were copygirls at the BJ.

That would be Amy Moore; Caroline Jean Krack, who lives in Minnesota and retired as a teacher's aide; Katherine Ann Moore, who lives in Cuyahoga Falls, retiring from the Environmental Protection Agency after 34 years; and a son also named Tom, who is married to Sabrina Naylor Moore.

Maybe 93-year-old Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff will show up and serenade Tom with “The Anniversary Waltz.” Or “Sentimental Journey,” which made Doris famous, or "Pillow Talk," which brought her an Oscar nomination.  

Doris sang to Tom in 1949. Well, to be clearer, and all the other new Air Force members at the amphitheater.

Maybe you know her better as Doris Day.

Goddammit, Tom, you sure know how to pick the ladies for a lifetime or for a night of superior singing!

If you want to congratulate Tom, his phone number is (330) 762-6669. If you’re too lazy to use your Smartphone, he has a Facebook page.