02/01/2012

Newspaper friends share about Randy on Sun-Times Web page

(Previously published in Sun-Times.)

David Lee, Sun-Times publisher- “I'll never forget the day Randy ‘forced’ me to take a day off from the paper and explore the state with him on our bikes. Through an entire day of a cold, miserable drizzle we rode. My bike was acting up somewhere near Missouri and we were not sure we would make it back to Drasco, still there was no way he was going to let me have a bad day... he kept me smiling the entire time. That was typical of my friend Randy!”

Lisa Thurman, Sun-Times office manager- “I have so many memories that it is hard to pick one. Him being our chef for cookouts. Burning our hamburgers on the outside and raw on the inside.”

Teresa Hipp, Sun-Times sales rep- “My memory of Randy is...One day Donetta asked Randy how he would like her to go about putting calls through to him. His reply was he would take calls at anytime if his door was open. If his door was shut whether he was alone working or in a meeting he would always accept calls from his family... ‘My family ALWAYS comes first’.”

Will Gilbert, Sun-Times sports editor- “As a boss, Randy had a knack for critiquing without offending. I wouldn't be as good a person or journalist if I had not met Randy. He will be dearly missed and never forgotten. He was a great asset to this community and surrounding area for many years. If every man in this world was like Randy, we would be much better off.”

Lorie Mink, Sun-Times co editor- “I remember the first day I met Randy. I was in my junior year of college working towards my journalism degree. I needed to do an internship to complete my degree. So I called and made an appointment with the editor of The Sun-Times, Randy Kemp. His first words of advice were, ‘if you are getting into this business for fame and fortune, you need a new major because that is not going to happen. Reporting is pretty much a thankless job that causes you nothing but grief. People will yell at you and call you names. The hours are long, the pay is small, and at the end of the day, the only thing you have to fall back on is your sense of accomplishment at getting the truth out to the people.’ He taught me everything I know. So much more than I learned in school. And he was still teaching me as late as last week [August 2011], when he sent me some helpful hints on magazine publishing. I feel it is too soon for Randy to be gone. I still have so much more I wanted to learn from him. I wasn’t through picking his brain. But God had other plans for Mr. Kemp. And though this tragedy has affected so many, not only in this county, but in this state, the thing I can take away from Randy’s death is enjoy life, do what you enjoy, teach others, live what you talk and never take anything for granted.

Donetta Sterling, former Sun-Times columnist- “One time Randy pulled a prank on me, which he never did before. It had started raining and he asked that I roll up his windows. I must have ran around outside a good 10 minutes before I realized he rode his motorcycle to work that day. He was smiling ear to ear when I walked back in the office drenched. Randy was a class act and a man who believed in giving people chances. I will miss my mentor and my friend. God Bless You Randy Kemp.”

Claude Dill, former Cleburne County Judge- “I considered Randy a great friend. He was a great guy that will be missed. He worked real close with both county and city government and really loved his job. He reported stuff like it was. He was instrumental in helping get the college here and with the jail. He came to my retirement party and we talked about old times and how we worked together trough the years. I know the AAC really thought a lot of him and will miss him big time. We will all miss him.”

Cpl RL Dunaway with Arkansas State Police, friend- “We started around the same time in our professions in the Searcy area. He was a ‘cub reporter’ for the Searcy Daily Citizen. I was a ‘rookie’ White County Deputy Sheriff. He ran the police beat news. He always made our agency group pictures every year, I called him ‘cub,’ he called me ‘rookie.’ We had numerous arguments over the years which continued after my transfer to Heber Springs years ago and finding him working for the Sun-Times. Which was mightier, the pen or the sword… I think he won always stating ‘I have an un-limited supply of ink, your arm will wear out swinging the sword.’ His passion was motorcycles and feeling the wind on the open road. Many, many people whose lives he has touched over the years join his family with heavy hearts at his loss. I am one of them.”

Larry McCarty, former editor, reporter, and sports editor for the Cleburne County Times and current sports editor at The Snyder Daily News in Snyder, Texas- “Randy was the perfect choice when the Arkansas Sun and Cleburne County Times were merged more than 20 years ago.  Randy established the foundation of the Sun-Times and built on the legacy built by the Irwins when they owned the Times. Randy and I were friends, but we never worked at the same paper. Unfortunately, fate never put us at the same paper at the same time. I became sports editor at The Daily Citizen shortly after he went to the Sun-Times. I remember the conversations, especially when he said that he loved reading my sports column. We often talked, especially when I was the editor at Newport. Randy believed in accuracy and cared for the people he wrote about and for. He also was a very caring person and not hard-nosed, like some newspaper editors. Even in the last few years, I called on him often for advice concerning photography. We lost not only a great newspaper man, but a great man.”

Paul Muse, former Heber Springs mayor, current city councilman- “He and I traveled together to Cleburne, Texas in 2006 to get a close firsthand look at natural gas drilling. We talked about everything on the drive down and back. He impressed me with his devotion to his religious beliefs and to his community. I always looked forward to his editorials because while he might write a pointed story, be was always fair and factual. He was a valuable and respected member of the Heber Springs family. He will be greatly missed.”

Debbie Thompson, admissions coordinator at Arkansas State University- Heber- “I am so sorry to just hear of this loss… my heart breaks for his family. I remember Randy as one of the first friendly faces I met when I came to work on the Heber Springs campus so many years ago. Randy was always a huge supporter of having a college here in Heber Springs, but at the same time, as a professional reporter, was always very conscious of giving the citizens of this county the truth about our operation and future plans. He remained a strong supporter of the college until his untimely death. I also know that his quiet, humble manner would not be comfortable accepting credit. We will miss him. My prayers are for his family and friends.”

Chad Meli, friend, former Heber PD detective- “I originally met Randy as our paths crossed in town through the course of our jobs. However, I didn't really get to know Randy until I met and eventually married my wife and started attending church regularly. At church the casual, ‘I'll be right back, I'm going to go talk to the newspaper guy’ quickly changed into ‘I'm going to go hang out with Randy.’ And soon after, that changed to ‘I'll be right back, I need to talk to Randy’. A true role model is someone that just makes you better by simply being near you. Randy was definitely that person. His influence on my life has made a significant impact on me, my family, and those around me. I know that I'm going to miss him but I also know that I'm glad I didn't miss out on him.”

Brenda Hill, friend, former Sun-Times co-worker- “Live life to the fullest — yes he did. And treated everyone he contacted with dignity. There were many times at the Sun Times office that we were amazed at his ability to quiet the occasional angry reader. The office would stay calm to hear his reasoning. Quick to listen... slow to speak. Truly a man of rare character. We weren't ready to let him go. He wasn't anxious to leave us. I think God would have liked for him to stay with us and continue to guide us. Don't understand the way of the world. Just very glad I'll get to see him again some day. I believe all who knew him will want to stay on the straight path so they can see him again, also. He definitely left a hole in our world.”

Randy Stevens, friend- “I remember working with Randy in the ‘moving’ ministry at Complete In Christ Church. It was a time when the men of the church would assist in loading or unloading moving vans for those who were changing homes. He was a very selfless man and would usually place himself in the nose of the truck where he could handle each piece as it was brought in by the other laborers. It was usually hottest up there, but Randy was so willing to serve. I also remember when the church men would go on a men’s campout and Randy would get the campfire going and keep it going. At one of those campouts, I remember the discussion turned to how our lives and the Gospel of Christ were like the wood in that campfire. A piece of wood could lay on the ground and rot away by itself or if it was placed on the fire it could be used to light many other sticks on fire to keep the flame burning. Much like one of those pieces of wood, Randy allowed himself to catch fire with the Gospel of Christ. His service and dedication to his Savior helped to light many other men on fire for the Lord.”

Joyce Hightower- “So sorry to hear of the passing of Randy. When he was editor of the Sun-Times, he was always so willing to publish articles about Heber residents. He always had a smile whether taking a passport photo, or just passing you on the street. My sympathy to his family at his time of sorrow. God Bless you all.”

Patrick Reilly, friend- “Having a conversation with Randy Kemp it didn't take long for you to realize that he loved his family and honored God. I have great memories of camping, riding four wheelers, drinking coffee, and laughing. Randy loved my family and was always encouraging us to be better.”

Marjori Wilber, Salem, Mo.- “Randy was a gentle and compassionate man who lived his Christianity more than he talked it. I appreciated his witty, insightful humor, and his quiet reflections on the passing parade of events. There are few like him.”

Glynda Turley- “Randy was a wonderful kind Christian man. I always enjoyed visiting with him. He had a way of making you feel special even though he was the special one. We will miss his smile and contribution to this world here. May we all keep his torch burning and make a difference like he did.”