Carthage Press' Buzz Ball offers recollections of Chip Watson

In his latest column, Buzz Ball of The Carthage Press offers some memories of former Big Nickel Publisher and GateHouse Media regional official Chip Watson of Joplin, who died recently:

Chip was a most passionate man about his job, his family, his church and about life. Chip had more newspaper advertising knowledge of any person I have worked with. I’m grateful to have grabbed on just a small amount of his knowledge that will help me in my future.

Chip cared about the things most precious to him. That is why we will miss him so much. While we may not have always agreed with his opinions or decisions, we always knew he didn’t give them out hastily. When he was wrong, he admitted it, took his lumps and went on.

Chip would be the first man to say he wasn’t perfect. He had failures in his life. He had ups and downs and difficulties that we all face. But Chip faced those difficulties a little bit different. He grabbed them by the throat and wouldn’t let go until they were either gone or diminished.