When Mr. Williams picks up his pen to make his batch of corrections to this issue of The Plainsman, we know there is a very good chance he will mark this column with a big “X.”
That’s how modest this wonderful man is. He would murder us if he knew we had planned to do this.
Ed Williams has been The Plainsman’s faculty adviser for 23 years. He is a big part of why this paper has continued to function week after week, year after year.
This tiny space does not do our feelings for him justice, but, as an old newsman, we know he knows about the constrains of space.
After all, he’s taught us about it.
Editors come and go, as do staffs; Ed Williams has stayed constant, sitting in his tiny office.
He speaks when spoken to, gives advice when he is asked.
He has never meddled. It’s not within his nature to be a Yente.
For 23 years, he has calmly guided this paper through the good times and the bad, the invisible hand that has kept the crazy ship on course.
He does not stay here for the money or the accolades; such perks are few and far between.
Ed Williams is here for the students.
His open door policy is just that: if the door is open, he is there to help you with whatever you need.
Many journalism students get the wrong idea of who he really is. They know him as the professor who holds their fate as journalists in his hands in the JRNL 1100 class.
That Mr. Williams is not our Mr. Williams, and is so far from who the true man is.
We wish every student had the opportunity to come into contact with him, to get to know him the way we have.
Ed Williams has touched all of our lives in more ways than he or we will ever really know.
Every comment or correction helps us see our mistakes and helps us learn not to make them again.
Every “who he,” “who she” or “who they” reminds us reporting is about telling people’s stories, and to properly do that, we need to get their names.
Ed Williams is why this office gets classified as a learning laboratory. He is a walking, talking journalistic tome.
Any time he particularly likes a story or column, we get an e-mail telling us just that.
The Ed Williams blessing is on par with a papal blessing, within the realm of journalism.
If Mr. Williams found out you were from a small town that you thought only you knew existed, you would soon find an e-mail telling you about your town and how he knows about it.
If you mentioned your favorite candy, it would show up on your desk.
Ed Williams cares. He genuinely wants to know and love people.
Such people are few and far between on this earth.
Ed Williams is truly one of God’s good people in this world, and we have been lucky to get to work with him.
We wish him happiness in his semi-retirement.
He has fought the good fight.
He has finished the course.
He has kept the faith.
He is the spirit that is not afraid.
Our Policy
The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages. These unsigned editorials are the majority opinion of the eight-member editorial board and are the official opinion of the newspaper. The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.
April 26, 2008 - 7:14am
Ed Williams
That was a great editorial about Ed. I could not have said it better.April 28, 2008 - 2:38pm
Ed Williams
I was a journalism student when Ed joined the staff. He can't be retiring. Has it really been 23 years? My best wishes to a great professor and friend.