“Every bad situation will have something positive to offer if you look for it. Even a broken clock has the right time twice a day.”
— Author unknown.
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You’re the newspaper guy, aren’t you?” That question came at a social function last week.
“I used to be … who wants to know?” I smiled, turning to face my questioner.
“I read your column every week,” the kind soul said. “It’s the best thing in the paper.”
“Bless you,” I responded, clutching her hand in both of mine. “You are too kind.”
“Everybody knows you,” commented a friend in the conversation. “That’s the second person here who has complimented your newspaper work.”
“I’ve done nothing,” I said. “I owe much to many, especially those who oiled the hinges for me when doors of opportunity opened. I tried to learn from every experience. I leaned what to do from some great people. And,” I hesitated for a moment. “I also had learning experiences from some individuals better to have been avoided.”
Later that evening, I reflected on those thoughts and experiences. Good fortune smiled on me decades ago when I met Morris Craig at The Naples Monitor up in Northeast Texas. He took a chance on me during a crossroads moment in my life. He taught me how to produce a profitable hometown newspaper with a faithful following. And we became lifelong friends along the way.
A few years later, Jim Chionsini in Center challenged me to use that knowledge and grow it into something larger than my dreams. Likewise, we too, forged a lasting friendship.
Even with good mentors, however, there are always potholes and risky detours. Times when hearing, “you’re that newspaper guy, aren’t you,” made me look for the nearest exit. Like the long-ago time I found myself up to my newspaper assets in shady alligators at a small weekly. A job I took as a young editor promised “financial gain and professional growth.”
It seemed unusual at first when the owner was rarely around during business hours. “He’s just busy selling advertising,” I assumed. Turns out he was busy all right. Working at night. Playing cards and partaking of spirits with friends after hours at the newspaper office. Hiding from bill collectors.
“Hey, buddy,” he called out the night I popped in to get my camera. “Sit down, we’ll deal you in.”
“Pass,” I responded as politely as I knew how. “Got pictures to take.”
Then I noticed the day’s cash box receipts shrank on game nights. Deposits dwindled. Finally, things got really bad when employees came to me for help with our “rubber” paychecks.
One day before card game night, money in the cash box covered the paychecks. And thus, my plot to keep employees paid was devised. Deciding I had learned all I needed to know there, I dropped my resignation letter in that same cash box knowing that was the best place for it be read.
“Where ya’ going, buddy,” the owner called the next day. “I need you.”
“Sorry,” I said calmly. “You know … seekin’ that financial gain and professional growth.”
“Just give me time to find somebody else,” he replied.
Two weeks later, he was singing the same song. “Give me just a couple more weeks.” That scenario was repeated until the afternoon that nicely dressed lady walked into the office. Business attire and a briefcase. “May I speak to the owner,” she asked, presenting her business card. “IRS” was all I saw when I looked at the card.
“What is your position,” she asked?
“Editor,” I stuttered. “But I’ve submitted my resignation. Waiting on the owner to find a replacement.”
“Do you sign checks?”
“Just pay checks to ensure employees are paid out of the cash box,” I stammered, beads of sweat breaking on my brow.
“I advise you to stop immediately.”
“No problem,” rolled off my lips. A quick call found the owner at one of his known hideouts. “Hey buddy,” he started. “I’m still looking … just a couple more weeks.”
“That’s not why I called,” I replied. “Someone here wants to talk to you. But since you brought it up, I’ll be leaving as soon as I hand her the phone. Oh … and thanks for the learning experience. It’s been real and it’s been fun. Just not real fun.”
I asked the IRS agent if she needed anything else from me.
“No, but thank you,” she said with a smile. “Better luck in your next job.”
Yes, I’m that newspaper guy. But I’m no different from anyone else. We all have a “broken-clock moment” story or two on our road to success. If we’re lucky.
—Leon Aldridge
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Aldridge columns are featured in these publications: The Center Light and Champion, The Mount Pleasant Tribune, the Rosenberg Fort Bend Herald, the Taylor Press, the Alpine Avalanche, the Fort Stockton Pioneer, the Elgin Courier, The Monitor in Naples, and Motor Sports Magazine.
© Leon Aldridge and A Story Worth Telling 2025. Excerpts and links may be used, provided full and clear credit is given to Leon Aldridge and ‘A Story Worth Telling’ with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.
A Story Worth Telling 