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WALLY HALL: Michael Storey a huge chapter in columnist's career

Today's column is more personal than sports. It isn't about yours truly, although the supporting role was truly embraced.

In 1979, several people applied to be the sports columnist for the old Arkansas Democrat. Each applicant submitted five column samples, and managing editor John Robert Starr pored over them. Later, the applicants learned of his decision to hire yours truly, and so did assistant sports editor Michael Storey.

Michael was my first editor as a columnist. My first editor as a sportswriter covering preps was John Brummett. Yes, the incredibly talented writer who covers politics started in sports.

Their styles couldn't have been more different. John wadded or ripped up my first attempts and said it would be embarrassing to publish that feature. Start over, he would bark.

That pushed my competitive button.

Michael would say the column was good, sometimes he'd say great, but then sometimes he still gently made suggestions.

Very early it was Michael who said, "Don't mix metaphors and don't use cliches. In fact, you are a clever person, make up your own sayings."

That pushed my creative button.

The two best written stories in Tuesday's paper were a news story on Michael's death, and the brilliantly written obituary that captured much of Michael's style and charm. The obit said that when he went to sleep and didn't wake up, a football game was on that he didn't care about.

Michael stayed in sports about a year -- a critical year as he helped launch my career. It was a sad time in his life too, as he was rebounding from a divorce. At the time, we talked more. We were a year apart in age and were Air Force veterans.

When he realized he was considered a hot commodity by the single women in the newsroom, he turned his attention to Celia Loyall, who brought a smile to his face that would last almost 40 years.

After they had married and their son was born, Celia was competing in the Pike's Peak Marathon. Michael and son Ben loaded up his old Bronco and drove through the night to Manitou Springs to surprise her. That type of support was a two-way street in their home.

When Michael caught the Pike's Peak bug and did the 13.2-mile ascent, he struggled with the altitude. Even though all the officials were gone by the time he finished, he did finish. Celia informed him he was officially last because the one person behind him died.

Michael was intelligent, incredibly well-read and talented. In his 41 years at the paper -- part of that as a valuable employee during the country's biggest newspaper war -- Michael became the graphics editor, a page designer and he was a great copy editor.

Yet, he became known for his columns called Otus the Head Cat. He had a huge following that lived for his weekly satire that was supposed to be a view of life through the eyes of a cat. Michael was so talented, the column continued after Otus' death.

Monday morning as news spread of Michael's death, many tears were shed. He was like everyone's big brother.

Lately he would drop by my desk, and we would chat about old times or new things in our life. It was generally when he was leaving work. Michael was a bit of an introvert, and he came to work about two to three hours before anyone else.

He had no enemies, only admirers.

Several people helped kick-start my journalism career, including Brummett and Starr, but none more than J. Michael Storey, who always made time to listen.

On Sunday, Michael left us. Most likely, Otus was waiting on him with some new musings.

Sports on 10/10/2018

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