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What do you do?
Report and write about education issues and general assignment stories in Jefferson County, a fast-growing county south of St. Louis.

How did you get your job?
I was lucky enough to have an internship at the Post-Dispatch in the summer of 1971. Then they were gracious enough to hire me full-time a year later. I've covered a wide variety of stories and locales in my 31 years at the Post-Dispatch.

Best professional lesson learned at the J-School?
Meet deadlines and keep your stories concise and interesting.

What are you working on currently?
I'm still learning the ropes in Jefferson County, where I've only been assigned for the last two months. I see many opportunities for articles on the effects of urban sprawl, which is probably the key issue in this formerly rural county.

What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement?
I'd say it's a willingness and ability to adapt to many changes and accept virtually any assignment that comes my way. I really enjoy working on breaking news stories and look forward to a different challenge each day. The job never really gets old, even after 31 years.

What makes you good at your job?
I work quickly, generally get along well with people and pride myself on a good record of accuracy in my reporting.

What did you want to be as a kid?
Oddly enough, a sports writer for the Post-Dispatch. I covered sports for KCCS, then the student radio station when I went to Mizzou. But by the time I graduated I was more interested in covering news and features. I've never regretted that I made that change.

What is one thing you wish you had done?
Won the Pulitzer Prize. But I guess there's still time.

What is something about you that might surprise people?
That I could still cover sports if needed to do so. I'm still stuck on keeping up with the most mundane facts and figures about the Cardinals, Rams and Blues. As a native St. Louisan who once wanted to be a sports writer, I guess this really shouldn't surprise anyone who knows me.