Rusty Saber: Rusty Saber still sharp after 20 years of prodding

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

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This issue of SBJ marks the anniversary of an important event. It's important to me, at least. The Rusty Saber is 20 years old.|ret||ret||tab|

It was the Jan. 17-23, 1983, issue of what was then called TOPs Executive Journal that Rusty first saw the light of day. It was after discussions with Dianne Elizabeth she was then both publisher and editor of the newspaper that an agreement was struck for me to begin a column after returning from a January Hawaii vacation.|ret||ret||tab|

It was customary for my wife and I to take January vacations because, as a college professor, I had that time off.|ret||ret||tab|

The initial column explained the meaning of the name Rusty Saber. Although a saber, it was rusty and would never actually cut anyone or anything; it would only poke.|ret||ret||tab|

Truth be told, I was interested in doing some nonacademic writing. (Some of my colleagues believe I achieved that goal; the writing has never been thought of as academic.) Always one to have my own unique take on life, I wanted to write about it in ways readers could relate. It must have worked, because it's still going.|ret||ret||tab|

Had someone told me in 1983 that I would still be tilting at windmills with a Rusty Saber in 2003, I would have laughed myself silly. I presumed that after ranting about a few pet peeves, I would tire of the whole thing, or, more likely, the audience would tire of me. The latter may have happened, and I didn't hear about it. |ret||ret||tab|

Except for a couple of brief times when the column appeared bimonthly, Rusty has teed it up every week of every year. I'm not certain how many column there have been; it's safe to say hundreds of them. |ret||ret||tab|

After the introductory column, the second was about Springfield drivers. A local disc jockey called to ask permission to read the column on the air. Later, I was told that it was well-received by listeners. Over the years, I wrote on this topic often. More than once, I stopped writing on it, assuming my readers were tired of it. Not so. Invariably, readers would ask, "When are you going to write again about those crazy Springfield drivers?" It's the mother lode of topics, indeed. |ret||ret||tab|

Many changes have come about since January 1983. The name changed to Springfield Business Journal shortly after the column began. Many fine editors and professional journalists have been on staff. I can't name any without including all, so I simply express my appreciation for their talents and journalistic fervor. I learned a lot from them. |ret||ret||tab|

In 20 years I certainly have experienced changes. In 1983, I was in the prime of my teaching career; at least I thought so. From that point, I have eased into retirement from Drury University into geezer status. The university calls it "emeritus" status, but it's geezer. |ret||ret||tab|

Along the way, I became a grandfather three times. A few years ago, a book titled "McAdoo About Nothing," consisting of selected columns, came on the market. The book certainly didn't threaten John Grisham's accustomed place atop the bestseller list, but there are a few copies gathering dust on bookshelves.|ret||ret||tab|

In these 20 years, the SBJ office has been located in three places. Coincidentally, my wife and I have lived in three houses during the same span of time. I assume SBJ will long remain in its lovely building on Park Central West in downtown Springfield. I have announced that I'm staying put; the undertaker will oversee my next move! However, I said that once before and moved again. |ret||ret||tab|

Since retiring, January vacations in Maui, Hawaii, have become the norm, hence Rusty's birthday is always celebrated there. Yes, Rusty goes with us; of course he does, he is my persona. Where I go, he goes. By the time you read this, we will be on Maui. |ret||ret||tab|

We will return in February with a notebook filled with new topic ideas. Until then, don't let the snow and ice get you down, and watch out for those Springfield drivers.|ret||ret||tab|

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