Column celebrates 22 years in SBJ

Having just put away the Christmas decorations, it will be next December before we again celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It could be said that on Jan. 1, we celebrated the birthday of the world, at least the part of the world that recognizes the same calendar.

The happy New Year wishes passed around at midnight on Dec. 31 are a way of saying “Happy birthday, world.”

If readers aren’t already aware, they should know that in 2005, the Springfield Business Journal will celebrate its 25th anniversary. All sorts of neat activities are planned for the year.

I like celebrations!

The SBJ story is undeniably a tremendous one. Whenever a special interest newspaper is able to start up from scratch, and be alive and kicking 25 years later, two things are involved: a definite need for the coverage (in this case, business) existed, and it did a commendable job of meeting and exceeding the need. These criteria for certain have been met: SBJ is celebrating its 25th birthday.

There is one more birthday in progress. I may be the only one celebrating it, however. With the publication of this column, Rusty Saber is 22 years old. Since he is my alter ego, I am compelled to commemorate the occasion.

Rusty is almost as old as SBJ. It’s hard to believe he has been a part of this newspaper during most of its illustrious history. It has been a delightful adventure.

Many changes have taken place as SBJ has grown and prospered. I believe the defining ingredients for success have been the talented professionals who have gone about the business of placing a fine product on the market every week that has been appreciated by the public. Business professionals, the primary target audience, probably will agree that this is a formula for success in the business world. I just want to say that Rusty Saber is both proud and happy to be celebrating his birthday along with SBJ.

Because I am the nitpicking sort of fuddy-duddy who keeps track of such things, I know that with this issue, the Rusty Saber has appeared in SBJ 1,082 times. That I keep such tidbits of information at my fingertips is a sign that I need to get a life. Or maybe I just need a vacation.

Did somebody say vacation? Of course, it was me. As it happened, the very first Rusty Saber appeared in January 1983. Since retirement, my wife and I have chosen to leave at about the same time in January for our annual sojourn to Maui. Therefore, it is by chance that the anniversary of the column and the vacation always comes at the same time. Excellent planning, even if it was accidental.

I realize that some readers who share my ill will toward ice, snow and sub-zero temperatures may believe I should be forced to remain here to revel in the dead-of-winter festivities. I will pass on that.

In the meantime, Rusty will get a breather from his weekly deadline and return in March. Although I plan to be as laid back as one can be in paradise, I will keep my antennae up, ever on the lookout for ideas to jot down in the idea notebook for future columns.

I’ll be seeking vignettes that other writers might pass up, but that could be Rusty fodder.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.

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