I was saddened to read of Elizabeth Cook’s decision to retire after a distinguished career at the Salisbury Post. Twenty-five years as editor of this great hometown newspaper is quite an accomplishment.

As a Rowan native who worked 40 hours per week while a student at Catawba College and then part-time while teaching at Knox Middle School and Salisbury High and serving in the North Carolina Senate, I have subscribed to the Post for more than 50 years, I think I have read 90 percent of everything Elizabeth has written.

What makes Elizabeth an outstanding journalist? She is a good listener who is active in the community so she has the pulse of the community to guide her. She cares about the readers and what they think. She also treats all people alike from the most powerful to the least influential and strives for accuracy.

Although I have known Elizabeth for many years, I don’t have the slightest inkling of her personal political beliefs. I am guessing that some Republicans think she is a Democrat and some Democrats think she is a Republican. I think she is a professional journalist who knows the difference between the editorial columns she writes and the news stories and features which she also writes.

I hope and believe that a recent letter which indicated Elizabeth’s retirement could be another step toward the end of the Salisbury Post is wrong. Hopefully, the readers of the Post will continue to subscribe and will ask others to do the same, in addition to supporting those who advertise in the Post.

Elizabeth has certainly earned her retirement. While she will enjoy spending more time with her family, I am sure she will continue to be active in the Salisbury/Rowan community. Well done, thy good and faithful servant!

— Phil Kirk

Salisbury