University of Virginia Library

Farewell...

Were we a professional, big city daily,
what happens with today's edition would be
unthinkable. Of course, for student
newspapers the annual change of command is
something by which the clocks are set in the
office this time of year. With each new staff,
the meaning of the paper alters with the
outlook and aspirations of the incoming
editors. New ideas, reconsidered aims, and
even the inevitable shifts of political
perspective, which have marked The Cavalier
Daily in the past few years, are all a part of
what someone guessed might be "a whole new
trip."

But first, Tom Adams. His name has
become synonymous with that of our
newspaper, and for some good reasons. We
first remember him as the City Editor who
kept the paper going during the terrible
transition to a new printer. Then, more than
anyone else, it was Tom Adams who got
down to the dirty business of writing copy,
editing copy, moving copy, setting copy,
proofing, pasting up copy. Next we think of
him covering Student Council, and spending
endless nights until after midnight getting out
the news. Then he was News Editor, and we
recall the kind of first page performance
which was de rigeur then, and which we might
be so lucky as to equal this year. And as
Editor-in-Chief, Tom Adams was the kind of
guy who makes you glad you joined the staff,
makes you happy simply to be around.

Too, we think today of Tom as the kind of
representative a good newspaper must have to
get along. His is the rarest combination of
graceful wit and the ability to say "yes" or
"no" — and truly mean it. In short, Tom
Adams will be missed more than most
departing editors are missed by their
successors. What seems more vital is that he
will be remembered as one of the finest we
have known.

To Fred Heblich, Bill Fryer and Sam
Graham, who held down the other end of the
Managing Board, we also offer our thanks and
best wishes. As Managing Editor, Fred
Heblich provided the organizer's touch and
revamped a slumping position on the
masthead. Although we often disagreed with
Bill Fryer, whose contributions were
primarily in these columns, we admired his
wide knowledge of University affairs and his
affable spirit. Sam Graham was the lion
slayer, the Business Manager, who relentlessly
balanced the unbalanceable, and tracked
down bad debts where they lay.

To them, and to the others who leave this
week, go our gratitude and wishes for a good
future.