So long Tribune, prep sports fans

Posted Jan 5, 2013 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 5, 2013 at 02:15 AM

After 24 great years as a sports writer for the Tampa Tribune, I’m saying so long to the newspaper business and starting a new career as the Public Information Officer for the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s Office.

I’ve had a fantastic run with the Trib, one that has allowed to me to travel to Europe and Australia to cover five Olympic Games. I’ve also been fortunate to cover four Olympic track & field trials, three Olympic swimming trials, four Super Bowls, six seasons as the Tampa Bay Mutiny beat writer, a soccer World Cup, hundreds of local road races and triathlons and countless high school events.

But starting Tuesday, I will start a new chapter.

Rather fittingly, I will be going to work for a former high school football coach, Bob Henriquez, who won the election for property appraiser in November with relative ease. He recently stepped down as coach at Tampa Catholic and asked me to join him in this new adventure. He will be sworn into office Tuesday morning.

With a chance to have a more predictable work schedule, for the sake of my family, I just couldn’t turn down coach Bob’s offer. If time and the aging process allows, I might even get the chance to train for another marathon. But the goal won’t be sub-2:45 like the four others I did before 1998, including Boston. That’s right about the time the Internet took over the lives of newspaper journalists everywhere and made their jobs 24-7/365.

What I will miss most about working for the Tribune will be the daily contact I’ve had with the coaches, athletes, school administrators and parents who are passionate about the same thing I am—high school sports. But I’m sure I will turn up soon to the occasional prep football game, track meet, cross country race, soccer match or basketball game.

Over these past 24 years, many of you have become my friends and I’m certain we can keep that going as I start down this new path. If you want to drop me an email to keep the line open, feel free to write me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

As I leave, please know the Tampa Tribune is still deeply committed to high school and local sports and will continue to give you the type of coverage you have grown to expect from Tampa’s hometown newspaper. As the prep sports staff is reorganized, please send any news or concerns to our longtime preps writer, Scott Purks (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) or Tribune Deputy Sports Editor Doug Jacobs (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).

Thanks for the great memories!

Bill Ward