Published: April 07, 2008 12:00 am      

Jeff Peek: It's not a goodbye

Stop me if you've heard this one: College student goes into the Record-Eagle looking for work, lands a job and never leaves.

There's no punch line. That's just how it worked for me.

Back in the fall of 1982, I was attending Northwestern Michigan College, working on a business degree that I didn't really want. I knew then-Record-Eagle sports editor Nick Edson, who told me there was a proofreading job open at the paper -- that was back when electric typewriters were considered modern office equipment -- so I applied for it, and got it.

I eventually began writing oddball stories for the paper about things like what college kids were wearing and a family who built a home without using nails (wooden pegs connected everything, by the way).

The more I wrote, the more I was given to write, and that included working Friday nights in the sports department. I eventually enrolled at Central Michigan University and earned a journalism degree, driving home every weekend to work for the Record-Eagle.

When I graduated, a full-time sports job was waiting for me.

That was a long time ago. I celebrated my silver anniversary with the paper last fall. But there won't be any more. As Kirk Gibson said upon his retirement from professional baseball, "I've been traded to my family."

The late-night hours here have always been difficult. But they became harder to justify as I began missing the after-school activities of my 15-year-old daughter, Taylor, and 10-year-old son, Dawson.

So I'm leaving to accept a marketing position at Hagerty Insurance in Traverse City, switching allegiances to the "darkside," as we used to jokingly call the public relations side of the business.

Looking back, there have been plenty of highlights during my career at the Record-Eagle. I've covered the World Series, the Ryder Cup and all four major pro sports. I've attended 22 Detroit Tigers openers, covered at least that many White Pine Stampede cross country ski races and nearly 20 Michigan Opens.

But more than the events, the best part of this job has always been the interesting people that I've met along the way. I would be hard-pressed to name everyone who has touched my life, even in a small way, but a few stand out because of their strong faith and character. People like:

-- St. Francis athlete Katie Heintz, who died of leukemia almost three summers ago.

-- Former TC West basketball standout Erica Olson, who was told her career might be over because of degeneration in her hip but who is currently playing college basketball -- a miracle, her doctor has said.

-- Steve Young, TC Beach Bums second baseman and one of the smartest, most insightful and well-spoken people I've ever met.

-- West athlete J.T. Hogan, who stepped up and became a father figure to his younger sisters after his mother left the family and his dad died of cancer.

-- Ryan Shay, a former Central Lake and Notre Dame star runner who died of heart failure during the U.S. Marathon Nationals last November.

I'll miss the human-interest stories. And I'll miss the co-workers I've spent so much time with over the years, especially sports editor Dennis Chase, who I've known since Day 1 at the paper, and fellow-sports writers Mark Urban and James Cook, because our lives have been so intertwined. Go easy on those guys, by the way; they'll be short-handed for awhile.

You might see my byline from time to time, but like most of you, I'll soon be more of a fan than a sports writer. And that will take some getting used to.

But after watching other people's kids play for so long, it's time for me to watch my own.

Thanks for your kindness, northern Michigan. I'm sure I'll see you soon.