SBJ holds fast to founding principle

When the Springfield Business Journal made its debut in July 1980, I was most likely dangling my feet in the cool waters of the Finley River, enjoying the summer vacation before my sophomore year in high school.

It wouldn't be long, though, until my contributions to the Business Journal would begin. In 1982 my byline first appeared in these pages as a Glendale correspondent. Later in the '80s, I got my first paycheck from the Business Journal as a free-lance columnist while I was living out of town.

(One of those columns, about John Q. Hammons' home and its construction in Southern Hills during my childhood, got a positive review for my mother from Juanita Hammons at a Binnie Clements Guild meeting. I suspect Mrs. Hammons was merely being polite.)

Then, at the end of 1995, I joined the staff here as a full-time employee. In 1997 I became managing editor.

My own history is intertwined with that of Dianne Elizabeth's Springfield Business Journal. And this publication's history and future is twined with its readers'.

Published in Volume I, Issue 1, was this credo: The Business Journal "is an interpretive and informational newspaper ... . (It) is edited to merit the respect of the thoughtful men and women of the Ozarks' communities."

That remains true 19 years later. The editorial staff, and everyone who works here, is committed to providing you thoughtful folks with information essential to the conduct of your business.

You are our reason for being and our greatest resource.

Now, on to the 20th.

-Paul Flemming

managing editor