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We didn’t all call him “Superman” — although there is a slight resemblance — but Rick Rogers was sure super to us.
As you’ve probably heard by now, Rick is leaving our family for the hustle, bustle and barbecue of Dallas, Texas. He will be working for a person very familiar with long-time Neosho Daily News readers, Randy Cope, and his newspaper group.
Rick has been good for our newspaper. The past month, nearly everyone I’ve encountered has asked about Rick and told me what a wonderful job he’s done with the Daily.
As a 16-year veteran of the paper, I’d have to agree.
Not to belittle the other publishers and editors I’ve worked under, but Rick was one of those rare bosses you work with as well as for.
From his first day on the job, Rick has demonstrated a willingness to roll up his sleeves and get the job done. He isn’t one to go home when 5 p.m. rolls along, or leave in the middle of producing the newspaper. When deadline pressure sets in, when we have an hour until the press rolls and five more pages to get out, Rick’s there to lend a helping hand. When our sports editor leaves for an advancement opportunity (dang you, Cody Thorn!), Rick merely turned his baseball cap around backwards, got his Nikon and other camera gear, grabbed a notepad and pens and headed for the field.
Rick demanded each and every one of us give it his or her best, especially during a crisis. Rick was a cool head when others were losing theirs. One year stands out in particular: 2007. You remember. It began with an unprecedented ice storm which knocked out power in some areas of town for more than two weeks. Yet except for one day, the Daily continued to put out a print edition, and had an online version each day. We all worked to make that happen, but Rick was the driving force behind our efforts.
Another event that year was the church shooting.
It was Sunday, Aug. 12 and unbearably hot: about 100 degrees in the shade. I’d heard there had been a shooting on the Square, so I began to make phone calls to get more information.
Midway through my second or third call to sources, I got a call from Todd Higdon, who said someone had been shot at a church downtown and he was headed that way.
We didn’t all call him “Superman” — although there is a slight resemblance — but Rick Rogers was sure super to us.
As you’ve probably heard by now, Rick is leaving our family for the hustle, bustle and barbecue of Dallas, Texas. He will be working for a person very familiar with long-time Neosho Daily News readers, Randy Cope, and his newspaper group.
Rick has been good for our newspaper. The past month, nearly everyone I’ve encountered has asked about Rick and told me what a wonderful job he’s done with the Daily.
As a 16-year veteran of the paper, I’d have to agree.
Not to belittle the other publishers and editors I’ve worked under, but Rick was one of those rare bosses you work with as well as for.
From his first day on the job, Rick has demonstrated a willingness to roll up his sleeves and get the job done. He isn’t one to go home when 5 p.m. rolls along, or leave in the middle of producing the newspaper. When deadline pressure sets in, when we have an hour until the press rolls and five more pages to get out, Rick’s there to lend a helping hand. When our sports editor leaves for an advancement opportunity (dang you, Cody Thorn!), Rick merely turned his baseball cap around backwards, got his Nikon and other camera gear, grabbed a notepad and pens and headed for the field.
Rick demanded each and every one of us give it his or her best, especially during a crisis. Rick was a cool head when others were losing theirs. One year stands out in particular: 2007. You remember. It began with an unprecedented ice storm which knocked out power in some areas of town for more than two weeks. Yet except for one day, the Daily continued to put out a print edition, and had an online version each day. We all worked to make that happen, but Rick was the driving force behind our efforts.
Another event that year was the church shooting.
It was Sunday, Aug. 12 and unbearably hot: about 100 degrees in the shade. I’d heard there had been a shooting on the Square, so I began to make phone calls to get more information.
Midway through my second or third call to sources, I got a call from Todd Higdon, who said someone had been shot at a church downtown and he was headed that way.
I threw on a shirt and shoes, and headed down to the Daily to grab a camera and lend Todd a hand.
By the time I got there, Wood Street was blocked off by a Newton County Emergency Management vehicle. I parked on the square, and was told by a group of people sitting in a pickup parked at the courthouse that three people had been shot at the Congregational church.
I grabbed my kit and made my way on foot down Wood St. to be greeted by Todd … and Rick.
Although it was Sunday, although he essentially had only one day off a week, Rick was there, camera and notepad in hand, and had beaten me there as well. Rick led our coverage that day, shooting photos, interviewing people, writing stories and helping us update the website.
Other events included the brutal murder of a 9-year-old Stella girl that November and a tornado that left 14 people dead the following May. Rick was there every time. He provided not only a driving force, but was a calming force for all of us.
Rick, you’re gonna be hard to replace: you know that, don’t you?
Rick is our boss, our mentor, our friend, our brother.
We wish him and his family well.
