This one's for you, Larry

In Other News #29 // Celebrating the stories of everyday heroes among us.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the influence of mentors upon our lives.

Over the years, I feel especially blessed to have been mentored by journalists who are legendary in my eyes. Some worked in newspaper or magazines, others in radio or television.

Larry Rhoten is one of these legends, and he’s been on my mind a lot lately. He worked in radio news for a rare — astounding even — 50+ years. I’m grateful that our paths crossed for 16 years during my formative 20s into 30s.

Thankfully, we stayed in touch over the years. And much of his early advice has resurfaced into my current worklife, as I recently returned to the radio airwaves as host of Morning Edition on NPR affiliate WITF, based in Harrisburg, Pa.