When I was a little boy I used to borrow my father's hat, and make a press card to stick in the hat band. That was the way reporters were always portrayed in the movies.

For 25 or 30 years I never had an assignment. These were all stories I wanted to do myself. So they were always about somebody I like, 'cause if I didn't like him, I just didn't do the story. And to have somebody else paying the bills for this tourism, to every corner of every stage, over and over again? Why, who wouldn't want a job like that?

I much preferred the peaceful life on the road, where I didn't have to ask embarrassing questions and do all the things real reporters have to do.

Good teachers know how to bring out the best in students.

I think all those people I did stories about measured their own success by the joy their work was giving them.

A true Southerner will never say in 2-3 words what can better be said in 10-12.

I made friends with a lot of those who could have criticized me in print and who didn't, who praised me instead.