THE Q factor

This issue officially marks my first year here in Rusk and

with the Cherokeean Herald.

If you want to be specific, my first article actually appeared two weeks prior to my first week in Rusk, but July 1 was my official start date.

All in all, it's been a great year. I've written a lot of stories. That phrase is not the most journalistic thing I've ever written, but I have seriously lost count of how many stories I've written. Most have been about good subjects. Some have been about sad ones. In the end, I've written about a little slice of life every week. Thank you to each and every one of the people whom I have interviewed for letting me have a glimpse at your lives, even if only for a short time.

Thanks go out as well to the coaching staffs at Rusk, Alto and Jacksonville. Whenever I needed a quote, every coach was available for me to interview. In addition, thank you to the athletes at each high school. Everyone should be proud of all of you because you're great people on and off the field or court.

Thank you to everyone at the Cherokee Civic Theatre for the fun I had during April Fish and The Wooing of Lady Sunday. I've always loved acting and that was a perfect way to get back into it.

Thank you to everyone at Whitehead Enterprises for giving me an opportunity to get started in journalism. No matter what I do and no matter where I go, I'll know that I got my start here and I will always look back on my time here fondly.

Thank you to the people across Cherokee County. This county is filled with so many nice people that have embraced me from the start. It's a lot like back home in Morris and Cass counties, which has given me a comfort level that many people don't get in their first job out of college.

Thank you to TCU, Jarvis Christian College, the University of North Texas, Stephen F. Austin and Paul Pewitt ISD for shaping and molding me into who I am.

Thank you to all of my friends who have kept me going and kept me smiling.

Thank you to my family across the state and the nation. Everything that I am, I am because of all of you.

Thank you to my parents and brother, Kerry, Lisa and Casey Boyd. I always swore that I would make you proud and I promise I will continue to do so.

In short, thanks to all of you who let me into your life, even if for a moment. I love what I do, and I hope you do, as well.