Hopefully, the readers of this blog will have as much fun as I hope to have writing it. There will be diversity in material offered but primarily it will be about golf (local and national), golf travel and tips from local professionals. My wife and I had been gone from Chico for exactly 21 years before we purchased a home here and moved in on Aug. 1. We’ve always had deep roots here but do travel back and forth from San Diego – for the time being. I’m still a Giants and 49ers fan and admit it. That being said, let’s go back to the beginning and a piece written in October.

50 years ago, you‘ve got to be kidding

By Ted Blofsky, Jr.
Former Chico Enterprise-Record Sports Editor

Recently I was browsing through the E-R when I found a column noting news from 50, 25 and 10 years ago.

50 Years Ago!

That’s when the lightning bolt struck. I was a part of that era. It was just 50 years ago last month (September) that a star-struck 18-year-old from Klamath Falls, Ore., his wife (Jan) and infant son (Mark) moved to California where I would attend Chico State College. We had learned about CSC from high school friends Bob and Betty Rodgers

I transferred from Safeway but the working hours were limited. Jan, learned from a fellow employee at Bank of America that Sports Editor Eddie Booth was looking for help at the Chico Enterprise-Record.

It took courage to apply since I didn’t know how to use a typewriter. Oh, my knowledge of sports was there, but typing is an integral part of the newspaper business. It took even more courage for Eddie to take a chance. Those who remember the big guy know he never backed down from a challenge. He put me to work immediately. I became a three-fingered typist until two classes a CSC made things much easier. And, Jan did not have to wait up every night to type my hand-written diatribe.

In an effort to make my E-R existence more justified I was given the duty to compile “Chico’s Yesterdays,” a daily feature on the editorial page and write obituaries. Classes at Chico State made it difficult to be in the office every day so Eddie decided it would be better to stick with Chico’s Yesterdays but not obits. The everyday rigors of the sports department were enough. In those days Eddie believed that if there was a sports event in town, you should be there even if not assigned to cover it.

The old E-R at 700 Broadway had a catacomb – my description – in the back shop. That’s where all the old newspapers were placed once they were bound. Anyone venturing up the stairs needed a shower after getting through all the ink dust. Remember, this was before computers, etc.

I remember thinking: “Who cares about 50 years ago? Even 25? Maybe 10 but those who do care probably can’t read anymore.” Ah, sweet youth.

Now I’m there. Yes, I do care. Yes, I can still read even if it took cataract surgery to help. So can many of those involved in athletics at the time. And, yes, those were the good old days. There was far less acrimony in the sports world. We worked many late nights and got up early the next morning. The E-R was an afternoon newspaper and there was no Sunday edition. We never looked at the clock unless it was to check for deadlines.

I had great teachers and co-workers. Eddie Booth was one of a kind. He nurtured me like a younger brother, some times with tough love. He threw balls of paper (with my stories on them) at me and my desk if he didn’t think the story was satisfactory. Another retired sports editor, Skip Reager, can tell the same story. But, we went to events as a family. Eddie’s wife, Bobbie, who recently passed away, and Jan logged plenty of miles. We knew all the coaches. We knew most of the players and many of the parents.

The headmaster was Bill Lee. He was recognized as one of the best newspapermen in the country. He was the editor when I joined the team. The late Milan Murray was city editor. He was a man with a fantastic command of the English language. Milan also could teach and helped me in many ways. Even after his retirement, Milan continued the golf column I had started.

Cy Donaldson was the assistant editor. Joyce Barkley handled the society pages. Yes, society. It means the same thing as today’s LifeStyle, Scene, Etc. Now it is a 50-year-old term that fails to resonate with younger editors and writers. Jack Whelehan was the farm editor. Most readers have followed the writings and exploits of Nick Ellena, the world traveler who covered Butte County government and Oroville. Chal Green covered the Westside, Sylvia Cooke and Johnnie Spreen were in Paradise.

The reporters were among the best, too. Phil Robertson lived the police beat. Ray Kaltwasser could write on any issue and followed the school beat. Not only were these people co-workers, they were family friends. It was Phil’s wife, June, who told my wife about the sports department job opening.

The back shop had its share of heroes, too. Lauren Broyles, who could have posed for Esquire magazine, always wore a coat and tie and never seemed to get dirty. He also never missed a day’s work in more than 54 years on the job. Chet Hill logged thousands of miles with his many trips from the back shop to the editorial departments to collect copy. Remember, this was in the days of linotype machine. Jess Roach (whose son, Bob, also worked for the E-R and is a good friend), Claude Kettell, Russ Bowles and Blizman got things from our desks and into print. Glenn Coito was among those on the press and Jim Ruddy joined our group shortly after I did. So did Bob Pentzer who handled many assignments before joining the academic worlds of UC Davis and then CSU.

Garey Weibel, who later became publisher, was in charge of the classified ads department. Arch Nichols was the top dog in display advertising and Les and Hazel Earle handled the circulation group, Marion Weibel not only was in charge of the business office but was one of the nicest ladies I have ever known. Who can forget venerable photographer Lloyd “Max” Maxson. Always on call. Always bemoaning the effort but always getting the job done. There wasn’t a newspaper in the country that could have paid his overtime. OVERTIME? We didn’t even think about it. Basically, we were having too much fun doing the job until it was done.

When such a great team is assembled – and continues throughout the years – there has to be good leadership.

We were privately owned. A.W. Bramwell was The Patriarch. He could be tough but he was extremely fair. He always stood by his employees. When complaints came his way, he went to the reporter to get the full story. Then, any problem was resolved. Mr. Bramwell also made it possible for the Blofskys to purchase a home on Via Verona Drive when we need a bit more money for the down payment.

Yes, events from 50 years ago are important. Except for a pair of “sabbaticals” I spent the better part of 29 years at the E-R. Changes were dramatic in those years and continue to be a challenge that probably is impossible to overcome. Typewriters went “bye-bye.” More schools opened. Women’s athletics flourished. A Sunday paper was added. Editorial space and employee time constraints make it impossible to do the things Eddie, Skip and I promoted.

I left the E-R on the last day of July1986 and worked as editor/publisher of NCGA Golf Magazine and director of communications for the Northern California Golf Association at Pebble Beach, retiring on the last day of July 2004. I loved that job, but never a day went by that I did not miss the thrill of putting together a daily newspaper.

One of my biggest disappointments came after leaving the E-R. What happened to CSU football? The contributions to society and young people by those who were part of a non-scholarship era are immeasurable as I witnessed Saturday evening, Oct. 13, at the Chico State Athletic Hall of Fame banquet. Simultaneously, those basketball players who played for Jerry Waugh were gathered in his owner at the home of Steve Piluso. Piluso is the principal at Marsh School.

Earlier in the day, former CSU football coach George Maderos was the center of attention of a large group of players who competed on his teams. Many of them are or have been teachers, counselors and successful businessmen.

It is important to remember the past. It is even better when told by someone who was there. Hopefully, I have not forgotten too many of those who were there when I was the youngest member of the staff. Many of those mentioned are deceased but the memories will never be forgotten.

E-mail address is grampsblof@aol.com