WARREN - An ''amazing ride'' was how longtime Tribune Chronicle business editor Larry Ringler described his 40-year career here upon his retirement last week.
Ringler retired on the 40th anniversary of his start date, July 10, 1972. He had covered sports for 14 years before moving to the news side. In 1986, he began covering general and community news and also started writing a column.
He became the business editor in 1991.
''It was always an exciting job with something different every day,'' Ringler said.
He said he didn't mind the deadline pressures, which helped create the excitement of being a reporter.
''There was always excitement to covering stories,'' he said.
''From Warren Western Reserve High School's victory in the state's first football playoff game in 1972 in my first year at the Tribune Chronicle, to Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's lightweight world boxing championship in 1982, GM Lordstown's ability to win new vehicles and now natural gas shale development, I've always marveled at the high level of news that occurs in the Warren area,'' Ringler said.
He added how much he's always enjoyed covering the football championships.
As a sports writer, he was nicknamed ''Raider Ringler.''
Ringler said he considers himself lucky to have been part of talented Tribune reporting teams, and to have dealt with many coaches, business leaders and union officials dedicated to their fans, customers and members.
As a business editor, he said Lordstown General Motors was always able to come through with a car.
He recalled the newsroom's transition from manual typewriters to the hot metal type, which was a mirror image that had to be read inside out.
''You had to really learn how to read them,'' he said.
Ringler said he remembers a major change at the Tribune Chronicle in 1977 when the newspaper began publishing Sunday editions. The Tribune also became a morning paper in the late 1990s.
''The computers and Internet brought about a lot of changes,'' he said.
Ringler said he had mixed emotions on leaving the job he has had for so many years, and admits he isn't quite sure what retirement will bring.
''Thanks for an amazing ride,'' he said.