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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bert Caldwell: Retiring with gratitude for my fellow scribes

Bert Caldwell

I’m retired.

After almost 32 years with The Spokesman-Review and 38 years as a professional journalist, I shared cake Friday with some of the co-workers whose dedication to truth-telling has been a daily inspiration.

What could be better than a room full of journalists who are smarter, cannier, funnier and more caffeine-crazed than you? And sometimes they bring doughnuts.

My good fortune started with my first job with the weekly Cut Bank (Mont.) Pioneer Press in 1978. I was so broke I had to borrow $300 from my folks to fix my 1972 Pinto, and had to get an advance on my first week’s salary so I wouldn’t have to sleep in it.

A wonderful couple, Keith and Vi Haugland, owned the paper, and suffered my chronic abuse of deadlines. Undeclared presidential candidate Ronald Reagan spoke at the annual farm forum and received a warbonnet from Earl Old Person of the Blackfeet Tribe. He had worked as an extra when Reagan and Barbara Stanwyck shot “Cattle Queen of Montana” in 1954.

After one freezing year, I was hired by John Sullivan, who headed Yellowstone Communications. After two months with its Livingston newspaper and eight months in Bozeman, I was offered the job of managing editor in Miles City, to which you must append “Home of the World Famous Bucking Horse Sale.”

I had never managed anything in my life – I’m still not entrusted with the family checkbook – but for the next four years the Miles City Star’s staff put out a heck of a good little newspaper. We stirred up trouble and won some awards, but the real reward was the friendships I and my wife, Lisa – the good woman I stand behind – made 2,000 miles from our families.

Sons Aaron and Jordan were born there, and daughter Megan was conceived there, which was a surprise complication to our 1984 move to Spokane. I was hired as one of five co-city editors. Imagine how well that worked.

At the time, The Spokesman-Review published four editions – Montana, regional (Columbia Basin), North Idaho and Spokane. I was responsible for the first three, which relied heavily on correspondents.

It did not go well. After one year, I was busted to reporter. Best thing that could have happened. My first assignment was the Junior Livestock Show. The cowboys in Miles City would have been proud.

My first major story was a hostile takeover bid for Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., which broke the day I was touring the Mead smelter. It was lucky for me, but the start of a painful period for the company.

The next 25 years were spent mostly covering business, reporting or commenting on Washington Water Power Co.’s transition to Avista, the rise of Sterling Savings Association until undone by the recession and the emergence of the Riverpoint Campus as an economic force.

Becoming editorial page editor in July 2011 was an opportunity to take a broader perspective. I haven’t always agreed with Publisher Stacey Cowles, but we have always respected each other’s opinions. It’s been a rewarding relationship.

Gary Crooks, who has been a true partner and friend, is taking over, and already making changes that will make the section livelier. I can’t wait to read all about it.

Since I arrived, probably 300 reporters, editors and photographers have made their marks – period to exclamation point – on The Spokesman-Review. I did not meet them all, but I’m grateful for the contribution all made to my experience here directly or indirectly.

Thanks.

And I’m on call for doughnuts.