The twists and turns of life and a career travel down roads with fuzzy destinations. I knew, after sizing up my parents and owning a rudimentary understanding of genetics, that a career as the Green Bay Packers quarterback was unlikely. So, in about the fourth grade, I thought a newspaper career covering sports would be a good plan – just in case I wasn’t adopted.

By the time I turned 16, I was editor for the school newspaper and working for the yearbook. My father, a teacher, arranged for me to videotape girls’ sporting events for the school. And through that, I met and talked with the editor of the local paper often.

Probably in an effort to lighten his load, the editor asked if I would write for the paper, covering local girls’ sports. Thrilled with the opportunity, my professional career thus started. Recognizing my nervousness, and wanting a good story in the paper, Knightstown High School’s girls basketball coach patiently answered questions and artfully crafted quotes – slowly – for me to take note.

I went home, rewrote it several times during the course of a few days, and then came to the newspaper office to share it with the editor. He looked at it, and said, “not bad, but here’s what you’ve got to do ...” when he was called out of the room on another, more pressing matter.

Also in that room was R. Thomas Mayhill, a recognizable man of the community as the owner and publisher of the Tri-County Banner, AntiqueWeek and Farmweek (now Farm World). As I looked over the story in my hands, Mayhill walks across the room and peeks over my shoulder.

Probably already knowing the final score and when the game was played, and recognizing my anxiety, Mayhill chuckled.

“How long did it take you to write that?” he asked.

“Three days, I think,” I sheepishly replied.

Then he laughed.

“If you’re going to be in this business, you’ve got to have your story finished five minutes after the game is over,” he said.

Without the nerve to say it out loud, I thought, “You’ve got to be crazy! How can anyone do that?”

As if he could read those thoughts right off my forehead, he explained.

“Write your story as the event is happening. Make use of breaks in the action to organize paragraphs. Pay attention to the important moments and make an outline on the margins of your notebook. Insert a few quotes from coaches or players after the game, and then you’re finished. Getting a story written quickly and accurately is the most important task in newspaper.”

Wow.

That one exchange has been among the most influential moments of my life; and sad to say, the only significant experience I ever had with R. Thomas Mayhill.

No college professor, none of my previous editors and none of my fellow journalists ever offered this tip to me. But I have shared those words with many writers through the years.

I have applied that advice at every turn in my career. It not only works for sports; it can also be used when covering government meetings, court trials, farm sales or antique auctions.

All this comes to mind because Mayhill, 95, passed away on Tuesday, June 26. And he is someone who should be remembered.

Mayhill was born April 17, 1917 in Delphi, Ind. to Bert B. and Dora L. Mayhill. His parents edited and owned a half-interest in The Delphi Journal.

He started his journalistic journey at age 11 in 1928 covering news and sports for that paper.

Later, he would work as a proofreader; and in 1930, published a children’s newspaper called the Delphi News. He became the Journal’s sports editor while still in high school.

He graduated from the University of Illinois, where he served as the managing editor of the Daily Illini, and represented the school at the New York World’s Fair. Next, he worked as a pollster and investigator for the Gallup Poll.

During World War II, Mayhill served as an intelligence officer, and later as a gunnery and communications officer on transports.

After his military service, Mayhill returned to newspaper. He became the assistant publisher of the Daily Chronicle-Herald of Hoopeston, Ill.; then the owner and publisher of the Record-News in Camden, Ind.

In 1946, Mayhill purchased The Banner, a weekly newspaper located in Knightstown, Ind. He was editor and publisher, but certainly wore many more hats.

Through the years, he continued to grow Mayhill Publications which would add The Tri-State Trader (now AntiqueWeek), Farmweek (Farm World) and Indianapolis Monthly.

Mayhill was elected to the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 1991. He served as the president of the Indiana Republican Editorial Assoc., and he was a delegate to the 1980 Republican National Convention.

Surviving are his wife, Margaret (Peggy) Mayhill, four children and 13 grandchildren.

His son-in-law and daughter, Gary and Merry Thoe, own MidCountry Media – which is the former Mayhill Publications – and are the publishers of AntiqueWeek, AntiqueWest, The Auction Exchange and Collectors News, Farm World and Marketplace.

Details regarding the funeral are online at www.toddfuneralservice.com.