My older cousin David Reid who is now retired out of the newspaper industry, successfully operated and published several daily newspapers in this state for many years. He remains the best newspaper advertising salesman I have ever known. David told me many years ago that the primary job of a good newspaper is to be a tireless cheerleader for the people and businesses of the community and area it serves. His father, my dad’s oldest brother Ken Reid, told me the same thing many years ago when I interned one summer at his newspaper in Weatherford when I was still in journalism school at OU in the early 80’s. Ken was 10 years older than my dad. He passed away a few months ago. Meanwhile, my dad, Gary Reid, is still down here working with us at least five days a week. He will turn 89 this April. Ken was 98 when he passed away after a long, happy, prosperous and healthy life. We should all be so lucky. Both were raised on the family farm in Jackson County, three miles north of Altus. Both also earned university degrees and went on become topnotch newspaper men in the state. Ken was still mentally as sharp as a tack up until a couple of years ago when dementia finally got him. My dad continues to be mentally and physically in great health. We are blessed to have him with us daily. I don’t ever forget that, because I realize that won’t always be the case. Both my dad and Uncle Ken gave words of advice freely, and both have been a treasure of information over the years. My cousin Phillip, who is a couple of months younger than me, is Ken’s youngest child. He was at OU at the same time I was, and he has gone on to be the most successful of us all in the Oklahoma newspaper industry. At last count, I think Phillip and his wife Jeanne Ann publish a dozen newspapers across the state. Newspapers in large markets have been in decline for several years, but county seat newspapers continue to prosper when the publisher and staff are willing to work hard to put out a good product. Phillip has successfully maneuvered through the transition from newspapers being traditional print-only businesses, into ones that “monetize” the digital side of their markets as well. Michael Swisher, our editor, has a pretty solid handle on that side of the business. Now we’re gonna find out if old dogs can truly learn new tricks, as this newspaper is transitioning into that direction. We should be well along that path before 2025 is finished. Phillip, like me, is 65 years old. He tells me he has no plans of retirement because he enjoys what he does so much. I, on the other hand, have no plans of retirement, because I still need to make a living for quite a few more years. Regardless, I still enjoy coming to work 5-1/2 days a week, and I also enjoy interacting with the wonderful people of this community and county. Much like this particular column, these past 42-plus years in Kingfisher has been a mostly pleasant rambling experience. We’ve been blessed with great friends, workmates, customers and neighbors.

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CTTC Is Doing An Outstanding Job Now back to that part about leading cheers. We attended the Chisholm Trail Technology Center appreciation banquet last Wednesday evening, and were mighty impressed with the job Superintendent Kurt Thomas and staff are doing there. If I was in high school at this time, I would definitely take a long hard look into the trades, rather than pursuing a four year university journalism degree. Our oldest two sons both earned university degrees, but youngest son Ross had no interest in college. Instead he joined the U.S. Marine Corps after high school, and while a Marine, he found out from a friend about the trade of pipeline inspection. Mary and I told him we were “all in” if that’s what he wanted to do. Fast forward four years, and after an initial investment of $40,000 for a year and a half of instruction and on the job training at his school in Flagstaff, Arizona: at 27 years of age, he’s making a much larger annual salary than his old dad. Tech schools make a bunch of sense, because this nation has a tremendous need for skilled laborers, and technology schools are producing them. If you choose to drive out a few miles west of Kingfisher on State Highway 33, you’ll see a large construction site, because CTTC has outgrown it’s facilities...yet again. During his address to the packed house in attendance at the banquet, Thomas commented that CTTC is at full capacity with programs in full gear in automotive services, cabinetry, cosmetology, digital technologies, health care, information technology and networking, practical nursing, pre-engineering, welding and more on the way with electrical and construction trades coming soon. Thomas said the electrical and construction trades classes will begin in August, with an expanded welding program also in the works. Kurt is a Kingfisher High School graduate. He’s the son of Max and Sheila Thomas. For such a young man, he has a very big job, and CTTC is humming along at an impressive pace. Kurt has an outstanding management team and instructor staff in place: Candyce Myers, Dan Craig, Paul Hursh, Randy Overton, Bill Taylor, Zak Rother, Gene Askey, Sarah Edsall, Camryn Cornell, Amy Estep, Darcey Simpson, Kristy Turner, Jay Snowden, Tiffanie Barnett, Cindy Tucker, Laramie Lopp, David Wilczek and Brian Dowdle are all recognizable names because these people are all friends and neighbors to many in the communities and high schools CTTC serves. We’re extremely proud of Kurt and the CTTC staff. These professionals are doing outstanding jobs in preparing our area youth (and also adults) for future success.