Goodbye, thanks to all

By DAVID HUNTER

After consideration and prayer, I've decided to move on with my life and my last day with the Cannon Courier will be Friday, December 18. This column is my final one for the newspaper. I'll really miss this place and here is why.

Earlier this year when my awesome boss (MTSU Journalism Hall of Famer), and current Owner/Publisher of the Cannon Courier, Ron Fryar, asked me to sports for the paper, I was extremely excited about the opportunity for many reasons both professionally and personality.

Professionally, I was ready for a new challenge after working for Ron for the past five years at the Murfreesboro Post. I covered some historic events in my hometown. However, I've enjoyed working for a unified community that supports their teams no matter what the record was on the scoreboard. So I was beyond excited to come here.

Personally, I was going through a lot of tough stuff, including losing a close Christian mentor to a sudden death, and a personal relationship falling apart (which was my fault because I focused too much on me instead of her). It's something of which I've worked on to become better.

Nonetheless, the first few weeks were interesting as the basketball postseason tournaments had to deal with the biggest winter storm to hit this area in several years. However, once the weather cleared it was a mix of emotions because the Lionettes used a Cinderella run to advance to state tourney for the fifth time in six years, and the Lions tried trying to end a 30-year drought fell in the sub-state.

I remember vividly the emotions at Robert A. Harris Gymnasium on back-to-back nights where we experienced the classic Jim McKay line of 'The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat'.

Now fast forward! This has been one of the best years of my professional career and I give all of the credit to not only my two bosses, Ron and Mike West, but to all of you as well.

I've never approached my role in this business to simply win awards or, unlike other writers in higher profile media jobs, upset people. Instead my goal each issue has been to be a voice for the student-athletes, coaches, and the wonderful people who make the local athletic programs the best in the state.
So, this is my way of saying thanks for everything! I know the excellent sports coverage will continue thanks to Ron and Mike. However, I felt I needed to step away and focus on other areas of my life.

Thanks for reading and all the support you have given me!