Longtime Times-Union newsman Norm Hagg is beginning a modified career change this week.

A veteran of nearly 40 years with the newspaper, Hagg is relinquishing his posts of general manager and editor-in-chief for the more relaxed lifestyle of semi-retirement.

Although day-to-day responsibilities and hours will be reduced, he plans to remain with the newspaper in a consulting capacity, handling some business responsibilities. Gary Gerard, while retaining the position of managing editor, will assume many of Hagg's prior duties.

"Age and health issues bring about the realization that it's time to slow down and enjoy life," Hagg said. "But staying with the newspaper part-time will still afford me the opportunity to do many of the things I have enjoyed so much over the years. I've always enjoyed people and I hope to maintain many of those contacts even with my reduced schedule.

"The Times-Union has been a huge part of my adult life. I am grateful to the Williams family for permitting me to stay involved on a part-time basis," Hagg added.

A native of the Chapman Lake area, Hagg was a radio news reporter in Missouri and at WRSW in Warsaw before joining the Times-Union as a cub reporter in fall 1963. Newsroom positions of sports editor, city editor and managing editor followed in subsequent years before he was named general manager of the newspaper in 1981. The title of editor-in-chief was added in 1988 following the retirement of longtime Senior Editor Curtis "Gabby" Garber on Dec. 31, 1987.

Along with his newsroom responsibilities, Hagg was able to return to his "radio roots" as the play-by-play announcer for Warsaw Tiger basketball and other area hardwood contests during the 1970s and early '80s.

"I loved doing the basketball games on WRSW," Hagg said. "One night publisher Reub Williams found me in the newsroom working late and chastised me for announcing the games on radio while carrying a heavy load running the newsroom. 'They are taking too much of your time,' he said. I argued that play-by-play of fast-paced basketball totally occupied my mind. And at least during the game, it was good therapy because I couldn't worry about all the newspaper deadlines and pressures.

"Reub probably didn't agree, but he never objected again," Hagg recalled.

The newsman says technology in the newspaper business has gone through a literal revolution in the past 40 years.

"When I came here, there were the noisy and hot linotype machines and hot metal production. Now everything is computerized and the changes have been phenomenal. I tell people there have been more changes in the way newspapers are produced during my lifetime than in the previous several hundred years."

Hagg and his wife, Pat, a retired nurse, will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary Aug. 3. They are the parents of three children: Beth Walker, Westland, Mich.; Mike Hagg, Silver Lake; and Brad Hagg, Warsaw; and six grandchildren. [[In-content Ad]]