John Ramey: Good editor, friend

To the editor:Readers of the Southeast Missourian lost a good friend in John Ramey, a former reporter and editor who died last week. During his 30-year career, John worked diligently to make sure readers of this newspaper had the most accurate account of the day's news.

I remember John as one of the most patient and instructive night news editors I've encountered. Stories in this newspaper under my byline were better because John Ramey edited them.

During the years we worked together, John helped me learn about our craft and made me a better journalist. It was just part of the job for him, something he'd done for the dozens of rookies who had come before me.

During my tenure at the newspaper, I saw the best of John's work and know readers benefited from it. He was a good teacher and a good friend.

As I instruct a new generation of journalists at the Missouri School of Journalism, I only hope I can learn to be as patient, instructive and kind as John Ramey.

LAURA JOHNSTON, Clinical Instructor, Columbia Missourian, Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, Mo.