All I ever wanted to do someday was to write sports for a newspaper. Oh, I even dreamed about covering the Olympics. I knew who Red Smith was, and Earl Ruby, maybe the best ever, was a distant relative through marriage. I even went to his house in Louisville one Saturday morning and sat down to just ask a few questions. I was so starstruck I don’t remember one thing we talked about.
For sure, I don’t remember asking a question.
I knew this day would come. I dreaded it, but at the same time looked forward to it. In my head I wrote the story at least ten times… maybe more. It would be my last Out & About column.
For 22 years I have written this column for several newspapers from Corbin to Paducah and points in between.
Beginning in 2002, I criss-crossed Kentucky, personally visiting small town editors showing them sample columns of what I wanted to write about in Kentucky.
I had cut my teeth growing up writing sports on two papers in Elizabethtown, and later in life published an advertising paper in Russellville at a newspaper owned by journalism legend Al Smith. So, with this you could say I knew the language.
At one time over the years there were two dozen papers carrying my monthly “Out & About” column. But, sadly, over the last several years newspapers have suffered lost revenue and with it a decline in pages.
The newspaper for over a hundred years is literally the backbone of a community. It’s the watchdog. It tells the readers everything. But, equally important is an informer. I’ve heard it said and so have you: “Don’t do anything you would not want to read in the newspaper.”
Traveling across Kentucky writing about places to visit, things to do and most of all people, my columns have been well received. Phone calls, e-mails and even letters have come my way over the years. What a run I’ve had writing this column in an effort to capture your imagination. At the same time I’ve written 22 books, of which 20 have been published. Add in a couple of statewide magazines and I count myself to be very blessed.
Over my writing career, which began in high school, into college at Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky, then the military, before a stint in the home office advertising department of one of the largest insurance companies in the world, I have met thousands. All of this before moving to Bowling Green in 1971.
The people… it’s the people who make the difference in a story. Mostly connecting their past with the present is what makes a reader say, “I didn’t know that.”
I’ve been described as a storyteller. That’s the way I’ve always tried to write. Finding a good story has always been my goal… writing about something I know people will want to read. It sounds simple. I guess my style could be described as my fingerprint.
My thirteen years as the executive director of the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation at Western Kentucky University, while working with Wes Strader on the Hilltoppers Basketball Network, opened the door to friendships in the sports world across the nation. And broadcasting basketball in iconic places like Madison Square Garden, Assembly Hall, The Forum, Carrier Dome, the Capitol Center, Rupp Arena, Mackey Arena, Freedom Hall, Hinkle Fieldhouse, and of course Diddle Arena, gave me openings for more stories to tell.
Following WKU came a more-than-a-decade in tourism as a leader for, not just the Bowling Green area, but several statewide associations.
All of this afforded me an incredible platform from which to write about interesting places, but more importantly interesting people who lived and worked there.
There are quite a few interesting people in Kentucky, many of which I didn’t get around too. Even though many of my columns have leaned more toward the sporting angle, I found that the so-called “average Joe” had wonderful stories to share. Believe this: everyone has a story to tell.
I have to pinch myself when recalling some of the people I have met and interviewed: Ed Diddle, Adolph Rupp, Wes Strader, Roy Kidd, John Wooden, John Y. and Ellie Brown, Gov. Paul Patton, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, King Kelly Coleman, Phillip Hayward, Kenny Perry, Randy Embry, Ervin Stepp, Oscar Combs, Byron Crawford, Cliff Hagan, Frank Ramsey, Bailey Howell, Bill Olsen, Hubie Brown, Jeff Mullins, Jim McDaniels, Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, Louie Dampier, Darel Carrier, Curtis Turley, Gene Bartow, Jeff VanNote, Steve Hamilton, Joe Dan Gold, Mark Stoops, Herbie Phelps, Mike Pratt, Cawood Ledford, Dr. Bob Davis, Bobby Knight, Darrell Waltrip, Bill France, Jr., Doug Collins, Al McGuire, Billy Packer, Charlie Bradshaw, Calvin Borel, Big Six Henderson, Penny Cheney (owner of Secretariat), Corky Withrow, Jim Brown, Joel Ray Sprowls and Fred Schaus.
Bevo Francis, Rodger Bird, Sam Ball, Frank Selvy, Sonny Smith, Leon Volkert, Wendell Ford, Hal Rogers, Terry Forcht, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, J. Bruce Miller, Lefty Driesell, Joe and Mamie Gregory, Gov. Ernie Fletcher, Gene Keady, Vic Bubas, Bones McKinney, Bowie Kuhn, Mark Mattmiller, J.R. VanHoose, Hillbilly Jim, Hulk Hogan, Jimmy Hart, Gen. Dan Cherry, Calvin Bird, Tom Hammond, Larry Conley, Joe B. Hall, Denny Crum, Morten Combs, Jim Host, Rick Hendrick (motorsports), Kenny Davis, General William Westmoreland, Mel Pender, Bill Wade, Howard Schnellenberger, Bobby Richardson, Cal Luther, Mel Purcell, Adrian Smith, Cliff Ellis, Lee Rose, Ron Bevars, J.D. Barnett, Deno Curris, Ralph Beard, Gov. Bert Combs, Leonard Postero (Leonard’s Losers), Steve Vest, Lloyd Gardner, Paul Rogers, Van Vance, Steve Nalley, Bill Samuels, Joe “String Music” Dean, Jody Richards, Hugh Durham, Julian Tackett, Chris McCarron, Butch Beard, Dale Lindsey, Frank Beamer and Mike Gottfried.
These are just a few, and when I look over the names I can’t believe it. Many of the Western Kentucky University family have been part of my history and have been equally important: Ted Hornback, John Oldham, Jimmy Feix, Jim Richards, Dero Downing, Clem Haskins, Dwane Casey, Murray Arnold, Ralph Willard, Jack Harbaugh, Dave Roberts, Lee Robertson, Jim Pickens, Joel Murrie, Travis Hud-son, Paul Just, Paul Sanderford, Virgil Livers, Butch Gilbert, Mary Taylor Cowles, Randy Lee, Pam Herriford, Hal Schmitt, Randy Deere, Bill Edwards and Steve Small.
Few people have had the experience of doing what I have done with WKU sports and statewide tourism. My 53 years in Bowling Green have allowed me to estab-lish relationships, not only across Kentucky, but the nation. Newspapers, magazines, books, and radio have been a dream come true. It was never about the money for sure, but instead enjoying what I was doing. I knew at the time it was special. My “I’ll get around to it someday” bucket list was deep and long, and as challenging as life is, it is far too short.
In late August my wife and I built a home in Elizabethtown. It even surprised me. This is where my formative years were spent before going off to college. It’s kind of funny when writing sports at Western and meeting Coach Diddle. I can honestly say he probably never knew my name, but he knew where I was from. He called me “E’town.” And, guess what? When I got to UK it was the same with Coach Rupp. He called me “E’town,” too.
The thousands upon thousands of words I have written have been done in longhand. Oh, I can type, but somehow I struggle with typing and composing at the same time. Therefore my wife, Deborah, has taken my scribbling and turned it into something readable. I’m still amazed at how she did it.
I may not have covered the Olympics, but my 264 columns have enriched my life more than you will every know. Thanks to those newspapers that have published my stuff, but most of all thanks to those who have read it.
Get up, get out and get going. Gary P. West can be reached at west-garypdeb@gmail.com.
