Today is “D” day, Jan. 16, the day we should be told what lies ahead for the Rocky, it seems like any other day but you can see the strain in some peoples faces. I have been sitting at the photo assignment desk for the last six weeks with a broken arm, skiing accident, my right arm of course, making me pretty useless. With some time on my hands, I do think back in my 28 year career at the Rocky Mountain News.

In my first building, things were pretty hectic. We had a small staff and shot as many as five assignments a day.

Things got better when a man named Frank Kimmel was hired as the photo editor. He threw a lot of the bad assignments away. Actually he would crumble them up and throw them back at the reporter. Needless to say the number of bad assignments went down.

We were only shooting black and white with limited color at Broncos games. Each photographer was given a roll of color slide film to use in a certain quarter. When we went on road games, we did the same thing with the film. We would pick one color shot, AP would make a color print and it would take 30 minutes to send it back to Denver then. Now it’s done in seconds. As the staff grew, the building became way too small and the battle cry was “Things Will Be Better In The New Building.”

In building two, the photo staff became world class. We did a lot of traveling. I myself went to two Olympics, four Super Bowls, World Cup Skiing, Mexico, California, Spring Training and the list could go on. Some of the best times for me happened on the road back then with great people like George Kochaniec, Dennis Schroeder, Janet Reeves, Dean Lindoerfer and many others. I wish I could talk about them, but the road stays private to those who were there.

The photo staff produced two Pulitzers during its time in that building and our reputation became known around the country. Again the staff grew and a new building was in order and again, “Things Will Be Better In The New Building” was being heard again.

In building three, hard times have come. The Internet and the economy have taking their toll! The future of the Rocky does not look good, and there will be no building four to make things better. Our time is running out. In the photo staff now I look to Dennis and George as my brothers who I love very much. The rest of the staff are my children. I have enjoyed watching them move on in life and have been amazed by what they produced. I worried quietly when they had troubles and provide my shoulder to some when they needed to cry.

I have had the ride of my life at the Rocky Mountain News and will cherish it until i die. I will miss being part of the brotherhood of photojournalists and, even more, my family on the photo staff and all my other friends, here at the Rocky.

For 28 years, when someone asked me what it did, I would say “I’m a photographer for the Rocky Mountain News.” I would say it with pride. It made me feel good and important and gave me access to see some pretty amazing things. I will now have to think of a new reply, like maybe “Old Guy Hanging Out,” or “Photographer Looking for Work” or maybe ” A Man Satisfied With His Past and Looking Forward To The Future.” May God bless everyone of you with a bright future, thanks and goodbye.