Losing Leslie at The Sun
by Rod Elrod - posted Tuesday, August 7th, 2007 @ 1:51 pm

Leslie Young has left The Franklin Sun after 24 years as a staff writer, community editor and editor.

Her co-workers here at the paper will miss her terribly--we missed her the moment she left on Friday--and the people of Franklin Parish will miss her as well.

On Friday, we will host a reception in her honor in The Franklin Sun offices between the hours of 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Everyone is invited.

Leslie Young is well known in the community, but when you work side by side with someone for 20 years, as I have with Leslie, you get to know them pretty well.

Leslie taught me much of what I know about the newspaper business, and she was an absolute whiz at what she did.

Other than my mother, I don't think I've ever met a more efficient worker.

Leslie Young is just flat-out smart.

She loves words, and she loves people, and those are good attributes for someone in the newspaper business. She can go through a pile of work in just a few minutes. She is an accurate writer and a talented editor. She can write an obituary or sing at the funeral.

At the paper, Leslie did some of everything, but she concentrated her efforts on what matters most to the people of the parish.

She wrote weddings and engagements and covered the news of agriculture.

She promoted music and the arts and churches.

She never tired of pushing for improvements in our schools, and she backed up her words with deeds by volunteering at schools throughout the parish. She worked with the chamber of commerce and supported our business community and economic development.

Leslie Young always promoted a positive agenda for the parish. She never tried to make someone look bad in print, but always tried to find something good in every situation. She preferred cooperation to confrontation, and we could certainly use more of that attitude in this world.

Leslie always came to work ready to work.

Work here at the paper is often fun, but not always. It's the same with any job, and sometimes your job is just something that has to be done. You just get up and go to work and grind it out.

But Leslie came to work everyday with a smile on her face. With her presence and personality, she picked up the spirits of everyone in the building.

Leslie Young is a joyful woman who loves life, and that love of life was transferred to the words that she put down on paper.

Her writing has a bounce to it, a lively feel that made The Franklin Sun a better newspaper.

I don't believe I have ever worked with a better person.

After 24 years at the paper, she has gone home to rest and recharge and work with the family in the farming business.

Leslie Young hasn't left the parish. She will be more active than ever, I believe, in her church and in our schools and throughout our community.

But she has left the paper.

That's good for her and bad for you and me.

Make plans to attend the reception on Friday.