OUR VIEW: A man of letters

When a titan such as Paul Dellinger retires from the world of journalism, the world suffers.
Dellinger the man has been described as defining the term “gentleman.” Dellinger the reporter has been applauded for his unbelievable output, his accuracy and his 44 years of commitment.
However, words like “polite” and “charming” don’t fully capture the man. And while knowing that a phenomenal 17,600 stories have appeared under the Dellinger byline increases the sense of awe, it doesn’t begin to tell what’s being lost as the 69-year-old wraps up a storied career.
In the early days of his time at the Times, Dellinger worked out of Wytheville with another reporter. The two covered 15 counties in the region. The dedication, time, effort and miles it takes to cover 15 counties, especially ones that are as separated as those in Southwest Virginia, is something that few people in the business or out understand.
The fact that Dellinger did it and did it well is a testament to his skill and professionalism. It’s also a testament to the profession.
With Dellinger’s retirement, the Roanoke Times is losing a valued employee. The region is losing something much more. In an era defined by career changes, downsizing and celebrity gossip masquerading as news, we’ll likely never see another Paul Dellinger. He was a reporter who could grasp issues with authority, distill information with clarity and took seriously his job of keeping the citizenry informed. Without him on the beat, things just got a little darker.
Paul Dellinger was good to the world of journalism, and we’re saddened to see that he’s leaving our ranks.