THE OLD PRO'S

Frankly, I'd have thought all of us would have passed into The Great Beyond by now.

But no!

Yet another gathering of former television journalists was convened but not in the Pie Place this time.

Taking pity on the oldest member of the gang (me) they came to Prescott Valley for lunch. 

The group this time was composed of, from left to right, former videographers Wally Athey and Steve Torbeck, former producers and news directors Al Macias and Yours Truly, and former reporter in both Phoenix and Washington, D.C. Ron Thompson, known in tv land as Ron Talley.

Ron's journey to Arizona from his home in Raleigh, North Carolina was the impetus for the gathering.

But he didn't come to Arizona just to visit me.

Ron is a native of a Chicago suburb but also a fervent alumnus of the University of Arizona in Tucson.

And its sports teams.

He came to see a couple of basketball games featuring his beloved Wildcats.

He was pleased with the seats he secured.

Now to take you back . . way back . . into the distant past, let me start with our trip to Washington for the Sandra Day O'Connor confirmation hearings to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Talley and I conferring on matters of state.

Then to Detroit, at the Republican National Convention in 1980.

Best buddies Talley and Athey, perhaps relieved that it was all over.

In 1984, we were found in San Francisco, at the Democratic National Convention.

As usual, I was on the phone (a landline!) while Talley waited to hear how much time he was going to get on the evening telecast.

A few weeks later, we had much roomier space in Dallas for another Republican National Convention.

Athey is editing videotape and Talley, this time, is on the phone.

Macias joined us at that convention and joyfully joined in on the "thank god it's over" celebration.

Now, somehow I don't have any photos of this Steve Torbeck on these many adventures.

But good old Baseball Steve was at that convention in San Francisco and was a photographer whom I've known for an even 50 years!

Here he is luring me to the edge of the Dread Mogollon Rim in northern Arizona, telling me "just take one more step back!"

And he made a trip to Puerto Vallarta in 1991 to share a couple of Boys' Nights Out with me when I lived in Mexico.

(Even though he had given up alcohol by that time.)

But getting back to our recent gathering, it was fun comparing notes on other old friends and sharing stories (once again) from the old days, most of which can not be repeated in decent company in these much more P.C. days.

But one story Mr. Talley told me I had never heard before.

I knew that when he came to work at Channel 12 there was already a Thompson on the news staff, the legendary anchorman Ray Thompson.

The powers that be didn't think they should have two by that name and so he became Ron Talley.

(He picked "Talley" from the name of a Chicago sportswriter.)

But before that, as they were all trying to come up with his "new name", it was noted that it was a rare rainy day in Phoenix and if he hadn't objected, he could have launched his television career as Ronny Rain!