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What do you do and what is most interesting about it?
At age 88 (I will be 89 on May 15) I still write an occasional column for the Memphis Commercial Appeal and a Man of the House column for The Germantown News. This is a continuation of the column I wrote for many years for The Memphis Press-Scimitar, where I was employed for 48 years. The interesting thing about writing is that it keeps me alert. I write about a variety of topics.

What types of work have you done in the past?
I served as telegraph editor, news editor, makeup editor, general editor for The Memphis Press-Scimitar, a Scripps-Howard newspaper.

What was your first job?
I grew up in Alabama, went to Howard College on a scholarship and graduated as an English and journalism major in 1937. I had been writing since age 12 for The Anniston Star, The Talladega Daily Home and Our Mountain Home (a Talladega County weekly). I always had wanted to go to the University of Missouri School of Journalism. I received my BJ in 1938. I was on my way back to Alabama by Greyhound bus, hoping to get a job on The Birmingham News. My Howard College professor was an associate editor. I missed my bus connection in Memphis and since I had several hours of waiting, I went down to The Press-Scimitar. Editor Edward J. Meeman said he would give me a tryout. I stayed 48 years including four years in the Navy... but he never told me I had a job!

What advice do you have for current journalism students?
If you want to go into newspaper work, read as many newspapers and magazines as you can and good books, especially non-fiction. If you are a college student, apply for an internship at your local newspaper or elsewhere.

What did you want to be as a kid?
Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a journalist.

What types of honors and recognitions have you received throughout your career?
My Man of the House column twice received honorable mention for the Ernie Pyle Award. As a resident of Germantown, I have been named Citizen of the Year, Favorite Local Personality several times, Hometown Hero and also received the Germantown Art League's Literary Achievement Award. The first two winners were Shelby Foote and John Grisham, so I felt pretty humble.