There are 22 steps from the lobby to the second floor of The Daily Independent. I’ve traveled those L-shaped stairs what seems like a million times.

 

It was 42 years ago this spring, a few weeks before graduating from Paul G. Blazer High School in 1975, that my career with the then Ashland Daily Independent started.

 

My father was in the Lions Club with Paul Sierer, the late editor of the ADI who at the time was the managing editor. He mentioned to Sierer that I was looking for any kind of work at the newspaper.

 

Sierer put me to work — rolling ticker-tape at 6 in the morning and matching that ticker-tape with the numbered story that was ticking over the Associated Press wire and being spit out. There was a certain way you rolled the tape and I’m sure I could do it today (It may have also contributed to some carpal tunnel in my older age).

 

The newspaper intrigued me and especially the sports department where I spent much of my idle (idol?) hours.

 

The late Mike Reliford, who would be my professional mentor, was the sports editor then and he took a liking to me. He was your typical crusty newspaper editor of the time. But he taught me how to write, how to stand your ground and how to interact with the public.

 

I worked around the sports department so much that he began putting me to work but, in those days, a byline had to be earned. It took from April 1975 to October 1976 before I wrote my first bylined story — a Kiwanis Bowl game between Coles and Putnam.

 

Since that first story went to press, I’ve written, conservatively, more than 15,000 stories — I’m sure more than anybody else in this newspaper’s history. I’ve also had easily more than 3,000 photographs published, and again, that number is conservative.

 

I say all this because this will be one of my last stories with The Daily Independent. I’ve accepted a new job as managing editor of Kentucky Today, a digital newspaper operated by the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

 

I’ll still be writing, reporting and editing, but no longer for this newspaper. My home base will be Ashland — so I’ll be around and involved in the community like always. But I’ll be representing the KBC, a natural move for me, and look forward to growing its digital brand. I'll start for the on July 1.

 

To read the full article click the link MARK MAYNARD: 42 years and no longer counting | News | dailyindependent.com

One of my favorites!

 

Good luck to Maynard on his next endeavor. He has wowed me numerous times over the years and been a valuable asset.

He's just a terrific human being. He has served that community well.

Thanks for posting @GOREDDEVILS. Mark is a great friend, and he is simply the best in the business, and like @spindoc stated he's just a terrific person. He'll be greatly missed by all DI readers.

Maynard will be missed. Always thought his articles were well written without much, if any, bias.

Congrats Mark!

 

One of my all time favorite sports reporters from the State of Kentucky.

First Congrats and Good Luck to Mr. Maynard!

 

But things like this always make me sad because even though I did not know him or even read his articles "way over here in WKY", I can tell by his article above that he was a tremendous journalist. You don't make it in that industry 42 years just because. It is a changing of the guard so to speak. How much longer with print newspaper be around? You have to ask the question. If it does go, it will take great journalist like Mark Maynard with it. Change is inevitable.

First Congrats and Good Luck to Mr. Maynard!

 

But things like this always make me sad because even though I did not know him or even read his articles "way over here in WKY", I can tell by his article above that he was a tremendous journalist. You don't make it in that industry 42 years just because. It is a changing of the guard so to speak. How much longer with print newspaper be around? You have to ask the question. If it does go, it will take great journalist like Mark Maynard with it. Change is inevitable.

I agree with your concern, but being the great person Mark is, he has mentored several high quality people to carry on the job. Mark actually left the sport desk a while back to edit the paper and has been grooming a few people to keep the sports pages of The Independent where they need to be. He may have retired, but his legacy will continue for some time to come.

I agree with your concern, but being the great person Mark is, he has mentored several high quality people to carry on the job. Mark actually left the sport desk a while back to edit the paper and has been grooming a few people to keep the sports pages of The Independent where they need to be. He may have retired, but his legacy will continue for some time to come.

 

Mark Maynard is one of my all-time favorite sports journalists in KY.... but Aaron Snyder is not far behind him.

He will be missed. Also, if you read the comments, there's a certain coach who tells him he'll be missed despite him being from Ashland. No names named, but if you read it, some of you might be shocked.

He will be missed. Also, if you read the comments, there's a certain coach who tells him he'll be missed despite him being from Ashland. No names named, but if you read it, some of you might be shocked.

 

Shocked at what? That the coach showed some class? :D