photo courtesy Jordan Verlage
So it has been a while since I wrote anything and I guess it gets easier every week I take off to not write. So I am getting back on the horse. I initially had a story set up to tell you about a week in my work life. I had pics of what Jordi and I covered in a week and I was going to break it down for you, but...
This week the Edmonton Photog community had a tragedy. Rick Taylor, who was currently working at A channel, the station I used to work at, collapsed on a shoot Tuesday night. He was covering a story out near Stony Plain and he had a pain in his chest. He stopped driving to see if he could wait it out, but the pains got worse. They called an ambulance and he was transported to a hospital. Then later when he was somewhat stable they decided to move him to Edmonton Royal Alex Hospital and he did not apparently make the trip. He had a second heart attach that took his life.
Here is a picture of Rick at the Brier...
Funny story about Rick from the Brier, he was set up to get the scrum of a Brier competitor, I think it was Dave Nedohin, and this old blue hair reporter for the 'world curling news' or some other insignificant publication, just stepped right in front of Rick. So Rick did what any good shooter would do, he threw an elbow. The ref did not see it so there was no penalty assesed. The old guy just blew a gasket. He and Rick got in a shoving match that I helped break up. The old guy kept yelling "Do you know how long I have been covering the Brier? Do you know who I am?" Most of us said we did not care who he was because who he was does not give him the right to step in front of a camera. A-hole blue hair. Anyway, Rick was immediately the hero of the moment. Rick kicked ass.
Here is another pic of Rick from the Brier...
As you can see Rick is not a big dude. He was great to have in a scrum because I always had a place where I could shoot. NO this is not trick photography, he is not kneeling, that is how tall he was. In fact just to show ho much of an a-hole the nd was at 'a' channel, I was told that he recently told Rick that he had to carry a stool with him to shoot any and all scrums with. There are females at the station that are about the same height, but I do not know if they were also required to shoot on a stool.
Speaking of management, if we have to, they were always gunning for him. He was one of the fine people who walked a picket line for 6 months in front of 'a' channel. Which in the new world order at 'a' channel that alone makes you a target. Plus he made the mistake of being seen with me so that did not help his status much. In fact he had a great picket sign that had a line on it and an arrow pointing to the line that said "You must be this short to run a television station" To get the joke, you would have to see the GM. Rick could look him in the eye. The GM was very short. Plus Rick was such a short dude it made that sign even funnier. Short dude calling another short dude, short. Funny as hell.
Rick was a giving guy who always had a kind word for anyone. He would encourage people to go for it in what ever they were seeking...Marcus Ferguson described it in this email...
'Rick was such a Great guy. He really encouraged me when I left A-Channel about to move to T.O. with no real plan. He told me to just go for it and said I'd do ok in the Big Shitty! He said "You'll do fine Marcus" He was right. I'll always remember that. A very Tragic loss.
Tip one for me, for him. I'll raise a Glass to my fallen comrade and make a Toast "To one hell of a guy. A Friendly, easy to talk to, really funny guy. May God bless you and know we grieve for you, we weep for you, and we stand for you. God bless you Rick and my heart goes out to your family and many friends you've left behind".
-Marcus'
photo courtesy Jordan Verlage
Marcus thank you for those words. I read them last night at the 'wake' at the Metro downtown. One of our haunts from the strike. The waitresses who were there last night recognized him and knew who he was. That says a lot about Rick. I remember once in a scrum, again all my memories of Rick come from work or the strike, I think it was Vicki Hall of the Journal said that Rick was the 'nicest smelling camerman she had ever smelled'.
Martin Schuldhaus sent me this note this morning....
'I too was very sad to hear of Rick's sudden passing. Rick was one of my faves at the former-A. He was always very supportive, kind, encouraging and most of all - when I tried to quit smoking and sucked at it - he was always there with a smoke and a light (Rick, you'll be glad to know that I finally kicked the habit - 16 months and counting).
I feel very fortunate to have run into Rick about a month ago at a news conference on post-secondary education. We chatted about old times and new times - I showed him a picture of my new baby boy. He flashed that big toothy grin of his and shook my hand.
Unfortunately, I am unable to attend tonight's wake but I'll be sure to raise a glass to a good man. Rick was a class act. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Sincerely,
Martin Schuldhaus
Former co-worker and smoking chum'
photo courtesy Jordan Verlage
Stacey Brotzel sent me this also apologizing for not making the wake, thats okay, 4 am comes quick if you stay out late...
'Of course I couldn't make it...but that doesn't mean Rick didn't mean a lot to me.
Sorry.
His heart was just too big...for his little mortal body.
He was a true gentlemen and we lost a great one.
s'
Stacy was on of 'Rick's girls'. By saying 'Ricks girls' I mean that on Sundays he would treat all the girls at the A to a Sundae on Sunday. I hear that without fail he would show up with an arm full of sundaes from McD's to treat the ladies working on the weekend. That tradition I believe will be sorely missed. Rick was truly a great guy. To most this might just be a nice gesture, but in the aftermath of a strike that split a newsroom down the middle, he did not discriminate. He bought for everyone. I am trying to learn something from that as I still have some bitterness to work out from our labour dispute.
As I said in my email to all those who we invieted to the 'wake', I was proud to have gone into battle and walked with him for 6 months on a picket line and would do it again in a second. I will miss him in the next scrum as I look for a way to shoot over the top of someone else.
Good bye Rick, RIP
If you wish to donate to the fund we are collecting for a memoriam, please contact Greg Donnelly or myself. Thank you.
