The Steamboat Pilot & Today salutes John F. Russell for photos and stories that have graced the pages of our local newspaper for 35 years.

No, John Russell is NOT retiring … on the occasion of his 35th anniversary, we simply want to acknowledge his three-and-a-half decades of serving our community and helping to keep local journalism alive and thriving.

From grand champion winners
At every county fair
To wildlife images so vivid
Osprey, wild horses, bear

From eagles soaring high
To mustangs running free
Your images grace our pages each day
For all of us to see

From the spectacular sandhill crane
To that ever-ambling moose
From a charming waddling duck
To that irritating honking goose

From far-flung field trips
To daily chores on ranches
From budding snowsports superstars
To whatever’s hiding in the branches

The care put into all the details
Of each and every story
From runners, wrestlers and entrepreneurs
To those who ski to Olympic glory

To get the lines in a rancher’s weathered face
You go that extra mile
From the beaming winner of a ski race
To unbridled joy in a student’s smile

Your new business stories
Keep us in the know
Your dance rehearsal artistry
Sends us scurrying to the show

Whether keeping us straight on the difference
Between a paddle and an oar
No matter what’s already there
You always give us more

The agonizing daily process
During which you gauge
All available choices
For that next morning’s front page

Whether it’s birds of flight
Or fussing with the light
You somehow get it right
Every single night

Not retiring just yet
Yes, we understand
But just want to thank you
For 35 years so grand

Not retiring yet, we get it
But thank you from your peers
Three-and-a-half decades and still counting
So here’s to another 35 years!