I just found out that an old colleague of mine passed away. I worked with Joe Patton at the Tullahoma newspaper for years, but anyone who has ever worked at a newspaper with a hard-nosed, go-for-the-throat, ethics above advertising newspaperman has worked with a Joe Patton. Irascible, honest, relentless, he wasn't so much a stereotype of the old newshound as he was representative.

I don't know what I've missed more, his suspicious approach to anything decided by City Hall, or his bad jokes. God Bless you, Joe, wherever you are.

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