by April Scheinoha
Reporter
The year was 1985. A young man entered The Times for the first time, hoping to obtain a job as a reporter. He was hired and began a career spanning nearly 40 years at the same place of employment.
“I had no idea what was in store for me, and I now realize I couldn’t have landed a better job or in a bigger community,” said Dave Hill.
Hill, editor of The Times, is retiring Friday, Feb. 28. “Many retirees have expressed one thought to explain ‘Why now?’” said Hill. “I never fully comprehended what ‘It’s just time’ meant. I’ve always been very serious about the fulfilling the duties of my job. I believe today as I did when I started that newspapers play a vital role in a community. They help define its culture, tell its story, keep readers informed, and, yes, help maintain America’s freedom. I’ve always had a lot of energy, and keeping up with the pace of news has never been a problem. Now it is, so it’s just time.”
Retirement will allow Hill to slow down. “You cannot begin to count the hours Dave has put in as editor – the amount of time with a camera in hand, fingertips on a keyboard, miles spent on the road and conversations with news sources, all done with a small staff racing to meet that next deadline,” said retired Times Sports Editor Mike Lundgren.
To read more, read the online edition of The Times or pick up a copy at a newsstand near you.