02/01/2012

Behind the Lines, a column by Scott Perkins, County Lines editor

Continuing the Lines

Building and creating the winter 2012 edition of County Lines magazine was not only my first major task as the new communications director at the Association of Arkansas Counties; it was a project that I will never forget. The people I met during the journey and the process of building the winter edition were the best gifts that anyone in my shoes could hope to unwrap.

I want to thank the AAC board of directors, staff, and County Lines contributors and partners for their support. They welcomed me like one of their own.

I was a 10-year newspaperman until October, when I had the privilege of joining the AAC family as its second communications director. However, the manner in which this position became vacant in August 2011 is one of sudden tragedy. 

Succeeding a co-worker, writer, photographer and friend (the list could go on) like Randy Kemp is a difficult proposition. When I first looked at County Lines magazine, I knew I had enormous shoes to fill, and could not anticipate all the lessons I would soon learn.

I then enjoyed the many ensuing conversations I had about Randy with co-workers and friends as I settled in his former office, learned about the AAC and started covering the events that he would have covered. The metaphorical shoes seemed to grow even larger in my mind, and it wasn’t until I had to tackle the cover stories of the winter 2012 edition — reporting and writing Randy’s stories — that I realized just how much learning about Randy and joining the AAC would impact my life.

I was honored to have the chance to sit down and visit with Peggy Kemp, Randy’s wife of 36 years, and David, his youngest son, as I was researching for the cover stories. They were so graceful and loving as they talked about the patriarch of their family. They both smiled and laughed as they remembered just a few family moments in front of me. They shared family stories, and as best they could, shared Randy’s essence, too. It was a pleasure learning about Randy through their words and expressions, and sharing it with all of you.

I can’t thank them enough for spending a little time with me.

On only my first day at the AAC, Randy’s photographs intimidated me.

When I admitted that to Peggy, she smiled, chuckled and said, “He’s got some years of practice on you.”

I considered it a responsibility from one newsman to another to properly tell Randy’s story from the words of those who loved and cherished him. I also felt a loyalty to embrace Randy’s passion to continue the evolution of County Lines magazine and make it the best it could be.

He was a wonderful writer and a skilled photographer. This was the main driving force on the design of the winter 2012 edition. I wanted to showcase some of Randy’s amazing photos and decided to start with the cover shot. “Big Snow – Rosebud,” the County Lines cover, was chosen far before I realized the date stamp on it. It was taken Jan. 31, 2010, which is on my birthday. 

As soon as I saw this photo, I was taken by it. The powerful light source and the glistening ice on the branches displayed an eye that Ansel Adams would be jealous of and a mastery of light that any photographer would envy.

Randy was also a shining light for so many that the image seemed to be my hands-down favorite for the cover.

Designing the cover stories was also a joy because I had not only great material, but great artwork as well.

I heard a preacher ask one day during a sermon, “Are you giving them good material for your funeral?” 

He, of course, wanted the audience to think about whether or not they had done enough in their lives to give the preacher at their funeral good material to talk about.

In Randy’s case, he hadn’t just done enough; he set the example that many of us could follow. The background images for the cover stories were also photographs taken by Randy. I thought it was a wonderful canvas to share some of the images he saw and captured.

He reinvented and truly loved County Lines magazine. I had the unique perspective of succeeding Randy and finishing a product that he began. Randy started what would become this winter 2012 edition, and he actually started building a couple of pages that I just finished. I often found myself in the position to ask “What would Randy do?” It’s really fitting when you think about it, considering how much God meant to Randy and how he lived his life.

It was a daunting task to pick up where Randy left off in the communications office at the AAC. I felt like a misfit or guest at times, as I had no choice but to rifle through his old computer, his files and documents and try to identify where I needed to begin and where he left off.

Along the way, I looked at the walls of the office and often had to ask, “What would Randy do?”

In the end, I hope the 2012 winter edition of County Lines honored Mr. Randy Kemp and the legacy he left on those who knew him.

Through this process of getting to know the AAC and Randy in this ever-so-intimate but awkward manner, I became a better writer, photographer, husband, friend, brother and father.

I lost a dear friend a couple of years ago to a tragic accident and I wrote a column about our last conversation. (By the way, my column for the last 10 years at three different newspapers has always been titled “Behind the Lines.”)

I wrote that knowing him made me not only want to be a better person, but knowing him gave me the energy to pursue becoming the person I wanted to be. I get the feeling Randy had that kind of impact on his friends and family.

I didn’t have the opportunity to meet Randy while he was here, but I was honored to be able to take his “good” material and help tell the story of how he lived.

It is a pleasure to be serving the great counties of Arkansas and I look forward to bringing you many editions of County Lines magazine. Don’t hesitate to contact me concerning County Lines, the AAC Web site or our Facebook page.

Comments? Suggestions? E-mail sperkins@arcounties.org.