Today we say goodbye to 2016 and close the door on a year full of excitement across the Greater Port Arthur area. To many, opening a door to a new year can cause many emotions to rise. The feelings of anxiousness, fear of the unknown, excitement for what is to come — even the sadness of leaving the past behind — are all understandable emotions.

For Port Arthur News Managing Editor Roger Cowles, who spends his first New Year in 40 years away from the News office, I am certain that all these emotions are very real.

Rogers’ retirement, which began last Friday, marks the end of an era for The Port Arthur News and the communities that we serve. Across many industries, but more so in the news industry, it is almost unheard of that someone spends their entire career in one community, with one newspaper. But that is what Roger did.

His commitment to the community he calls home has been second to none. The communities that encompass the Greater Port Arthur area are lucky to have had an honest, hard-working person such as Roger to lead the newsroom. Spending countless hours preparing news plans, writing stories, training staff, covering events, etc., are but just a few tasks on his daily agenda.

Our jobs can be very thankless, as we often frustrate or even infuriate some readers who disagree with a story or a stance. Roger was the complete professional when it came to this. Get the story right, was his goal. It is not our place to change a story or sway a story to appease anyone. It is our responsibility to put the correct information in front of the reader so they can make their own assessment of the issue.

When it came to editorials on community issues, Roger was especially adamant about taking a stance. We must share our thoughts with readers and allow them to agree or disagree with that stance and invite them to share their thoughts in print via letters to the editor. We must spark thought and discussion throughout the community.

This the communities of Port Arthur, Nederland, Port Neches and Groves should miss. Nobody has done it better.

But this weekend starts a new year and a new chapter in the life of Roger Cowles. What will he do? Where will he go? Who will he see? Does it really matter? No, it does not! Because he has earned the right to do whatever it is he wants to do, wherever he wants, whenever he wants, with whomever he wants. Oh, the true joy of retirement.

Here at The News, we will miss him day in and day out. Our lives will change as well. But what we will miss is much different from what the rest of the community will. We will miss a great person who always lends a hand to help, someone who is always supporting change to move forward, and someone who is witty and enjoys a good laugh to lighten a stressful day. Someone who wants to see those around him succeed by striving to make those around him better. Yep, that is what we will miss.

Thank you, Roger Cowles, for what you have given to The Port Arthur News, and the communities we serve. On behalf of the many lives you have positively impacted over these past 40 years, may your retirement be full of happiness and joy.

— Your Friend, Rich Macke