That's (from the left) Tom Field, Me and Gene Marrano. 

Old Home Week at Public Television

Yesterday's appearance on Gene Marrano's "Bu$iness Matter$" at Blue Ridge Public TV in Roanoke was more like in-breeding than a family reunion. Here sat Gene, Tom Field and me talking like it was 2010.

Tom helped formulate the business plan for the now-defunct (and legendary, I might add) Blue Ridge Business Journal before leaving it (something I only found out at this interview) and I came in as editor beginning with the second issue. That lasted about 20 years before. In the interim, Tom returned to the BRBJ (where Gene had become a freelance contributor) as general manager.

I like these photos by WBRA's Lisa Fenderson.

After The Roanoke Times bought the publication, everything was good for a while, but then The Times thought it needed to have a hand in running a successful business publication. 

Tom and I saw the writing on the wall, resigned (I "retired" because I could) and started Valley Business FRONT. Eventually, the Journal died of its own inefficiency (and not because of a "bad business model," which The Times' publisher claimed.

Anyhow, I left the FRONT a few years ago in order to finish a novel ("CLOG!") and ultimately Gene took over as editor, where he is doing a yeoman's job. Gene has never been afraid of work. 

It was good to sit and chat about old times and new developments for 26 minutes and I even got to pose with my old bud Cookie Monster (and I took home a PBS coffee cup). 'Twas a good time for us.

My old bud and me.