I have to tell you about a momentous day in our newsroom.  We said goodbye to the king of photographers in the news business of the Huntington-Charleston market.  His name is Earl...Earl Ward.  He retired this week.

Earl is a great guy.  He's been shooting the news for WSAZ for nearly 42 years.  He's almost a walking encyclopedia of the big events of our region's history.  He was there when John Kennedy used West Virginia's election to springboard to the Presidency.  He was there to cover the collapse of the Silver Bridge in Point Pleasant.  He was there for every natural disaster that has befallen us in the last half century.  He's covered every election in all three states since Lyndon Johnson was President.  He's the guy who brings you the pictures to make sense of the news around you.

What you don't know is that Earl is a wonderful guy to work with.  He's always having a  good day.  He always has an entertaining story to tell.  He always tries his hardest to turn out the best possible product.  He has the old style work ethic and it shows.

We'll miss Earl.  However, I think you'll miss Earl, too.  Our news will never quite be the same without him.

Rob Johnson