The Rusty Saber sharpens faithful readers' memories

Jim Anderson, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce president

Jim Anderson has known Joe McAdoo since the late 1960s, when McAdoo was a Drury University college professor and debate coach and Anderson was a student debater at Missouri State University. He started reading McAdoo’s Rusty Saber column about 20 years ago “for the tremendous wit, parody and commentary that he brings to SBJ.”

“He’s the Andy Rooney of SBJ,” Anderson added, noting that the column pokes fun without being vulgar. “I’ve always admired that about Joe. It’s always appropriate. It’s not destructive. It brings a chuckle. It’s a good relief, a good balance. It’s all in good taste, good form.”

Anderson said he doesn’t have a single favorite column, but he enjoys the more popular previous columns published while McAdoo is on his annual winter vacation to Maui. “Some of those are pretty good,” Anderson said, noting that he does not have a copy of McAdoo’s book, “McAdoo About Nothing,” a compilation of his favorite columns. “That’s something I’m going to have to get.”

Above all, Anderson considers himself a serious reader of the column. “I read it every issue. I never miss it. Some of that might be self-preservation or protection to make sure my name is not in there.”

Jan Horton, retired Community Foundation of the Ozarks CEO

When casual column reader Jan Horton thinks of Joe McAdoo, she visualizes his face covered in cream pie.

The good-natured McAdoo allowed himself to be “pied,” she said, for a public service announcement promoting the Ozarks Public Television/KOZK TeleAuction that he and Horton worked on together for years.

“We enjoyed seeing Joe get a pie in the face in the weeks leading up to that TeleAuction,” she said, adding that it’s something she’s razzed him about.

His Rusty Saber column, she said, “is right on.” Horton’s drawn to McAdoo’s quirky and thoughtful takes on life situations.

“Joe’s columns help us remember our common humanity – just how fallible we are,” she said. “He points out in a humorous way all of our shared idiosyncrasies. There’s value in a column like that.”

Bill Underwood, retired co-owner of Irene’s Quick Spuds

Bill Underwood calls himself one of SBJ’s first subscribers, and his affinity for the Rusty Saber column stems from a personal connection.

“He was my Sunday School teacher for several years,” Underwood said of McAdoo’s work decades ago at the Disciples of Christ Church on National Avenue. “He rates pretty high in Springfield as far as honest, faithful, interesting and everything else.”

Particularly appealing to Underwood is the column’s retrospective slant.

“It’s always been related to memories, to good times,” he said, likening McAdoo’s material to Hank Billings’ long-running column in the Springfield News-Leader. “To me, I’m 82, that means an awful lot.

“We’re really into those old-timers who know quite a bit about history,” Underwood added, briefly recalling his 1946 move to Springfield to attend Strong College and his first job at Great Southern Savings & Loan on Walnut Street. “I’ve watched Springfield grow.”

Interviews by Eric Olson.