The "Lancaster Newspapers Names New Executive Editor!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  On the front page of the morning newspaper was a familiar face looking back at me...with the words EXECUTIVE EDITOR under his name.  Guy by the name of Tom Murse  was just elevated to the position of executive editor of the LNP/LancasterOnline.  Even though I was familiar with Tom's face, I didn't know him as well as I did his dad and brother.  It was back in the mid-1980s that I first met, or should I say, cursed out, Tom's younger brother Jeff.  Jeff was playing for an opposing team in Little League baseball against my youngest son Tad's team.  I was the coach of the team and when, in the bottom of the last inning of a crucial game, left-hander Jeff came to bat with the game tied.  I looked at my co-manager Wayne and wondered if I should have my pitcher walk him.  Then I reasoned, this isn't the World Series.  This isn't the game of a lifetime.  Let the kid bat.  He's only 9 years old for God's sake.  Should have walked him!  He took a mighty swing and hit the ball further than I probably could have.  Hit it close to 250 feet down the right field line.  My right fielder was reaching the ball when he crossed the plate.  We lost when we didn't score in the bottom of the inning.  Certain plays you witness in your lifetime as a coach never leave forget, and this was one of them.  The following year Wayne and I had the privilege of coaching the 11-12 year old traveling team and one of our first choices in the draft of boys was Jeff Murse.  Over the years he was the force that led us to 6 straight Lancaster County Championship games in different age groups.  And what's neat is his dad helped with the team in each of those years.  Tom was one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet.  He never once questioned how we used his son or where we played him in the field.  Of course, he was one of the best pitchers in the league.  I got to know Tom over the next six years and found he ran a press for Lancaster Newspapers.  He even allowed me visit with him one time so I could see for myself how the press operated.  Great guy with a great family.  

Tom Murse (Lancaster Newspapers)

And now his oldest son Tom, a journalist with 22 years of experience as a reporter and editor, from one of the best families in the county, has been given the responsi- bility of executive editor of the entire newspaper.  He had been a managing editor since 2014 and the digital editor the past few years, but he is now totally in charge of the LNP paper as well as The Caucus, LNP Media Groups award-winning investigative newspaper, which is based in Pennsylvania's capitol of Harrisburg.  The article tells of Tom as a child and watching his dad arrive home after a day of running the newspaper on the press.  In one hand was a crisp, folded newspaper while in the other hand was the ink-blotched lunch pail he carried to work with him every day.  Tom marveled at the idea that at the instant the ink hit paper, those pages conveyed information and ideas that would immediately become the shared knowledge of an entire community.  Everything from the births to the deaths was news, some joyful while others depressing.  And...this is what Tom will continue to do today, just as it has been done for the past 225 years in Lancaster.  It had been reported that most local newspapers would die in the next five years...but, young Tom, as a reporter and editor, proved the Lancaster community loves its news.  Hey, I can hardly wait to get up each morning and head to the foot of my driveway to get my morning newspaper.  Tom tells that change is constant and we will adapt while we get better.  In this article he assured his readers that the reporters, editors, artists and photographers will continue to put out the finest, most comprehensive and impartial news report in the community.  And, I have no doubt, coming from the family that he does, that he will do an excellent job as the Executive Editor of the Lancaster Newspaper.  The task is large, but the new administrator is passionate about his job.  I feel safe knowing my newspaper will be with me 'til the end.  My end...not the newspaper's end!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.