Tom Brennan | It's going to be hard to say good-bye

When I have bumped into old friends in recent years, many of them asked me why I had not yet retired.

Some who had already retired talked about leaving their jobs as if they had escaped from prison. Others still looking forward to retirement had the days and minutes counted until they would be free.

I never felt that way.

It is going to be hard for me to walk out of the News Journal building after 43 years of enjoyment in the same newsroom. It is time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life, but it still won't be easy to leave a career that has given me so much.

My retirement was announced last week, and my last day here will be Oct. 30.

Yes, I had a lot of great fun being a reporter and guiding a successful news operation and business. I love journalism and I love this place. I always wanted a job where I could make a difference, and I know I found one here.

It has been a privilege to witness and chronicle the history of the Mansfield area for more than four decades. I even got a chance to step on stage myself a time or two and play a role in the drama.

Mansfield has had its challenges and achievements during my time at the News Journal. But, Mansfield's experience has been no different than most other Midwestern cities during the same time period.

All in all, Mansfield is a great town. There are so many people here who have worked so hard to make their town a better place. The effort level has never been as high as it is right now.

My wife, Joyce, and I raised our four children in this community and they have benefited from their experiences here. By the way, my wife and kids couldn't have been more supportive of me.

I have also had the honor of working with so many great people at the News Journal, in all departments. But, the newsroom is where I started and where I remain. Newsrooms attract smart, curious and creative people. Storytellers like Ron Simon are treasures who have benefited this newspaper and this community. Woody Hayes was right. You win with people. You should know that there is an outstanding team of journalists here right now.

Journalism is essentially a disciplined effort to tell the truth. Often, it takes several stories on the same topic to get close to the full truth.

The best part of this reporting for me was when positive things happened to people or institutions as a result of what we had written. Politicians did the right thing, people received help or readers simply were pleased and motivated.

One of the toughest realities for me was that you don't always make friends when you strive to report the truth. People have differing perspectives and may feel offended or victimized by a news report.

It took me a while as a journalist to fully comprehend the broad spectrum of views and the give and take that is built into the democratic system. It is hard to not take criticism personally when you have invested so much of your life into something that makes you proud.

I could tell enough old stories about the experiences I have had and the fascinating people I have met to fill all the pages of this newspaper. I guess all I really need to say as I reflect is that I tried to do my best.

My future plans are developing. Ask me for details in October.

Tom Brennan is the editor of the Mansfield News Journal.