Not all roads lead to Coshocton, but this one did

COSHOCTON – So who is this new guy and what brings him to Coshocton?

My name is Joe Williams. I'm a journalist, a reporter, editor, writer, storyteller and the latest addition to the Coshocton Tribune.

My mother claims I was always the kid who asked questions: Who said? How come? What makes this do that and that do this? My curiosity drove her nuts when I was a kid, but my career choice is at least partly her fault: She was the one who taught me to read and write. Those disciplines continue to feed my curiosity and fuel my lifelong journey to learn about the people, places and things I encounter.

Something from within compels me to share the information I learn. Journalism seems the perfect fit. The earlier steps now seem predestined: I delivered papers in my teens. I reported for my high school newspaper, then later edited my college paper and literary magazine.

My full name is Joseph Alan Williams Jr., but please call me Joe. Everyone I know does, except for some New York cousins who still insist on calling me Joey, because that was my childhood nickname. Please don't join them, although at least a couple of them would be quite tickled if you did.

I'm named after my late father, a career Air Force man. I was born on Kindley Air Force Base, Bermuda, while Dad was stationed there. Our family, which included two sisters, my parents and me, moved around the country and beyond, as military families do. I graduated from high school and started college on Guam. I finished up in Nebraska, earning an English degree at what is now Bellevue University before following the family to Newark, Ohio, where Dad had gotten a job at what was then the Air Force Base following his retirement.

In 1981, I joined the Newark Advocate full-time as an education reporter. That started what has become a 32-year career serving Central Ohio, counting stints with the Pataskala Standard and Suburban Newspapers in Columbus. Over the years, I've covered crime, courts, government, education and entertainment, and just about everything else as a general assignment and features reporter. I also spent more than a decade as an editor of one sort or another, including city, lifestyles and entertainment.

Most recently, until last month, I covered city and county government for The Advocate. I transferred here, replacing Leonard Hayhurst, who now serves the Coshocton, Zanesville and Newark papers, working in the Newark office.

I love music, books, movies, baseball, hot dogs, cookies and food that is bad for me.

Enough about me. Let's talk about my family: My wife Gale is an adjunct English instructor at Central Ohio Technical College in Newark and a professional tutor in the writing lab there. We have a daughter, Rachel, and two sons, Brian and Nick. Nick and his wife Hilary have four children, our grandchildren. Most of the family lives in Newark, while Brian and his fiance Lindsay just bought a house in Hilliard.

What have I learned while working here the past two weeks? "April is the cruelest month," as the poet T.S. Eliot said, and when people say this area tends to flood, they mean what looks like a small river can flow across the highway after heavy rains, so keep your eyes peeled and be ready to reroute. (Learned that in my first week – twice.)

I've learned there seems to be plenty going on or coming up soon, but I still have to learn how to get to it. (I'm a Mapquest monster. Haven't really gotten lost yet, but I have missed a turnoff or two.)

The people I've met have been friendly, gracious and helpful. They've cut me some slack because I don't know as much about the community as I soon will.

I think both the city and county are very beautiful. I love the terrain, the architecture and the history I'm learning. I especially like the county courthouse, Roscoe Village and at least one magnolia tree that lives at Fourth and Chestnut streets in Coshocton. I've watched her blossom on my walks to the sheriff's office and the courthouse.

If you see me out there on the street, say hi. I'm not nearly as grumpy as my daughter insists I can look.

Thank you for welcoming me to the area. I hope I can earn your trust.

You can reach me at jwilliams6@coshoctontribune.com or 740-295-3417.