Julian Miller: My Sam
My “Sam” was actually a “Bill”, W. S. “Billy” Morris III, to be exact. He was the CEO of the
company and he loved to tell me I was not a publisher any more than he was a CEO. “We are nothing but teachers,” he would say, “Our jobs are to help others grow. Hopefully, we will be better next year than we are this year.”
His teaching experiences were many and varied.
In the 1980s, Billy owned not only the second largest newspaper in the state, but the largest locally owned company in Augusta, Georgia. He was pretty much depended on for everything in the community and he contributed to all, but got little credit for it.
Read MoreDennis Sodomka: My Sam
I’ve known Gregory Favre for about 35 years, and as great a newsman as he is, I’m grateful to him for showing me it’s OK to be friends with people who work for you. You can have fun and be in a serious business.
When he was the managing editor of the Chicago Daily News, no one worked harder. He could be a tough editor, yet we had some great racquet ball matches. And when we found ourselves with Chicago Bears season tickets a row apart, he and his wife Bea would bring the hot buttered rum to games.
Read MoreBeing A Sam To A Sam
About 10 years ago, we were in the midst of a major cross-country move – from Alaska to the Midwest. I was transferred within my company. And we did not know a single person other than my boss when we got there.
No one.
At the time, the eldest Son of Thunder was three; the second Son of Thunder was hanging out inside the Little Black Dress, and was due in a couple of months. Between the move, unpacking, starting a new job, baby on the way, not knowing a soul … we were slightly stressed.
And along came Courtney, although we never called her that.
Read MoreRobb Krecklow – My Sam
There have been many changes in classroom education since I left high school in 1969, but I am confident that one thing has remained constant. Good teachers influence students for a lifetime, not just for the year, or less, they have them in a classroom.
That’s how I felt after learning that Cecil M. Richmond had passed away in my Nebraska hometown. He was 90 years old.
You don’t know him, of course, but I hope you know someone like him. Mister Richmond, as nearly everyone in the school and the community called him, was that special teacher, who taught me the value of lifelong learning.
Read MoreWhen Illegal Immigration Hits The Church
I’ve been on a rather whirlwind tour the last 10 days or so down in Georgia promoting my new book, Everyone Needs A Sam. I’d call it a success. I’ve learned a lot, the Little Black Dress and the Sons of Thunder got play time with friends. A good trip.
Yet I also learned, and saw, one of the most powerful expressions of pure love at an Atlanta church where I spoke about my book and our need for mentors. Seeing what this church was going through almost made me feel in the way. I felt like an interruption, yet despite what this church was facing, they still welcomed me with open arms.
My little book and I felt pretty insignificant. The one saving grace for me was my book is about mentors, and how true mentors stand by you when everyone else has deserted. I saw the most awesome display of that ever at this small church.
You see, one of their members was arrested during a traffic stop. During the investigation, the police found out the member in question was an illegal immigrant.
Read MoreLeon Thompson: My Sam
When I was three years of age my father abandoned my mother and me. Drugs, alcohol and womanizing were the culprit. I never saw my father again until I was 26 years of age. My mother was very young and without support and returned home.
During the years that followed I was raised, for the most part, by my grandparents. My grandmother’s heritage was Pennsylvania Dutch Quaker and my grandfather was a New Mexico cowboy. We lived on a small farm in Concord, California, and they both had a great influence in my life. However, the one who had the greatest influence was my Uncle Sam.
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