For What It's Worth: Retiring this week
Long-time adviser of The Lookout Larry Hook is shown in a selfie from the 2004-05 school year, his first as adviser of The Lookout.
By Larry Hook
The Lookout Adviser
The reality is setting in.
I have known for the past three months that I would be retiring from LCC at the end of January. Now here I am on Tuesday, Jan. 28, trying to assess my 20 and a half years as adviser of The Lookout, LCC’s wonderfully historic student newspaper.
After being a student-employee at The Lookout back in the early 1980s, and spending the next two decades in journalism’s “real world,” I returned to my roots in the summer of 2004 to become the adviser of the newspaper.
I have to admit, I was naïve to the ways of college students when I first started as adviser, and the students took advantage of me for a while with pranks, double-entendre headlines and clever wordplay.
With the support of my then-boss, Denise Harris, I grew into the job, and began a successful two-decade run as the overseer of The Lookout. Our paper won countless awards over the years, and I met so many wonderful people, many of whom I stay in touch with today.
When I wrote my column announcing my retirement last week, I placed a link on Facebook. This resulted in numerous former student-employees congratulating me and thanking me for how I had helped them at the start of their careers. Some of them brought tears to my eyes.
Maddy Warren, a former editor of The Lookout who now works as a sports journalist in Minnesota, wrote: “Congratulations Larry! Forever grateful to you and The Lookout for giving me my start!”
Former Sports Editor Jayden Hewitt texted me to say: “Congrats on your retirement, Larry! I’m grateful you were able to give me my start in journalism. Still my favorite newspaper I’ve worked for.”
Kaitlyn Lutz, an associate editor for The Lookout way back in 2010, wrote: “Wow! Many fond memories of my time at The Lookout and so grateful for the experience from those two years. Congratulations on your soon-to-be retirement.”
Amber (Glomb) Kenton, a former writer and page designer, added: “You were such a kind boss!! Congratulations on your one step closer to retirement. The Lookout is lucky to have you.”
And former Editor in Chief Chloe Gregg, who worked with me remotely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, said: “Congratulations Larry! The Lookout will never be the same without you.”
I really appreciate knowing I made a difference in at least a few people’s lives in my capacity as adviser. And I can assure everyone, my life will not be the same without The Lookout.
It’s been an awesome rollercoaster ride. I have worked in six different offices on campus, with at least six different bosses, and with well over 100 (mostly awesome) student-employees. I will never forget all the good times.
Thanks to my current boss, Patti Ayers, and to everyone who has helped make my career at The Lookout a successful one.
-30- (If you don’t know what this means, check an Associated Press Stylebook. It’s old school, like me!)