In 2002, I came in on a Saturday to interview a Manhattan-based editor for our managing editor job
He arrived by train, dressed quite nattily in a sport coat.
Our publisher stopped by to meet him, dressed in Bermuda shorts.
That may have sealed the deal.
Chad Anderson, a Northwestern graduate, had worked as a copy editor at Men's Journal magazine and was working as an assistant managing editor at Us weekly when he made that trip to Richmond.
He and his wife, Megan, both Leesburg natives, wanted to move back to Virginia — a stroke of extremely good fortune on our part.
Chad has had a starring role in our office wackiness and collection of characters — a comic-book fan with superhuman powers for comma placement; a book lover who can also craft a mean story himself; and an animal lover who has been late to the office more than a few times in order to clean up a pet-created disaster.
We have been through births, deaths and hundreds of deadlines from 2002 through today. He also has edited this page from the get-go, making me look good.
Chad will be leaving us. He wants to spend more time with his wife and his children, Carter and Rhett. For now, he'll be freelancing, and this fall, he'll be teaching at the University of Richmond.
For the students who will be lucky enough to have Chad as their teacher, listen up. You'll learn far more than what makes a great story and the difference between an en dash and an em dash. You'll learn about preparation, attention to detail and loyalty.
Chad finished with the title of executive editor, which means he did a hell of a lot, but he was our de facto copy chief. This year, he also became leader of his daughter's YMCA Princess tribe, so he has the actual title of Chief Red Wolf, too.
Farewell to our chief. This 35-line salute can't even come close to how much I've enjoyed working,
arguing and, most of all, laughing with you over the past 11 years. I will miss you every day.
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