David Melson
The biggest asset someone can have in the journalism industry, especially a young journalist, is not just a mentor who knows the ins and outs of the business, but someone who cares.
For nearly 13 years I had that in David Melson.
David was my copy editor and mentor.
When I first came to Tennessee to cover sports, I honestly was too young for the position.
I was brash, hot-headed and quick to flaunt my newly-acquired title of sports editor.
I’ve never been one to shy away from showcasing my emotions and honestly, the gift I was given was being able to convey my emotions into words.
The best thing I could have ever happen to me was being able to work with David on daily basis.
For well over a decade, David worked with me on every day.
He was our copy editor, the final look over copy we wrote, designs we produced and ultimate safety net.
Sure, he was human and things slipped past him, but he was really damn good at his job.
I mean heck, he spent 50 years of his life serving this community.
He knew the ins and outs of the job. He learned from the best—his old man Bo, who was the epitome of community journalism.
I remember when I first moved to Tennessee, I had all kinds of history and legacy told to me about what the name Melson meant to this area.
David died in 2023 after a short fight against cancer.
I’m still bitter that dreaded disease took not just the best mentor I ever had, but also stole a close friend from me.
It’s been so, so hard without him.
I keep doing this job not just because I love it but because I’ve become part of this community.
It’s a weird dichotomy trying to process moving on from his passing and being the one who always had someone there, to being the one people look to for advice, input and feedback.
I learned so much from him.
I learned how to not just refine my craft from a technical standpoint, but to do it professionally and edit and proof content.
One thing I’ll say, I know I’m really good at this job.
I’ve found my calling and honestly, have run with it.
But let me be very clear, I am NOTHING without the daily interaction I had with him.
Throughout my time in this community, I’ve had several interns, coworkers and colleagues who have at various points turn to me in the same way I leaned on David.
I won’t ever put myself on the same level of a journalist as he was but I will absolutely claim we’re cut from the same cloth.
The best badge of honor I can do is continue to work in this community and provide news I know David would be proud to be part of.
I’ve done this for 15 years.
I’ve seen quality journalism and I’ve seen the worst it has to offer.
I’ve been part of the highs and been part of the lows.
There’s a story I tell about David that goes back to 2022 when I was deer hunting in West Virginia and mixed up the production deadlines for our papers and didn’t realize it until right at deadline, which happened to be when I was sitting in my stand.
I didn’t have a ton of options, but in true David Melson form, he swooped in and covered me, like he did so many times.
I knew he drank Diet Pepsi like a fish drinks water, but never got around to giving him a 12-pack of soda as a gesture of thanks.
After he was moved to hospice and I was able to get one final visit with my old mentor, I sat a bottle of Diet Pepsi next to his on his nightstand.
David died on April 25, 2023.
His impact on the community should never be undervalued, nor forgotten.
So often once people pass, they disappear to history like tear drops in a rain storm.
I hope I continue to honor his legacy by everything he taught me and by being for others what he was for me for so long.
As far as I’m concerned, I’ll continue to honor David Glenn Melson by doing the best I can at not only covering local news the best I can, but being the best source I possibly can be that colleagues can look for help, advice and providing journalistic integrity.
And…just maybe I’ll have a Diet Pepsi.
Miss you, David.
Chris Siers is sports editor of the Bedford County Post. Email him at csiers@bedfordcountypost.com.
