John Vass Jr., whose career at the Chattanooga Times Free Press and its predecessors spanned nearly 49 years, retired in May 2014.
Just a teen when he started as a cub reporter in 1965, Vass went on to write obituaries, cover the police beat and serve as the newspaper's business editor. He was named the Times Free Press web editor in 2011.
"His energy and enthusiasm are unmatched," Times Free Press Editor Alison Gerber said at his retirement.
These days, Vass burns a lot of that energy as a member of the Cranks, a group of cycling enthusiasts that routinely rides three days a week, covering 30 to 40 miles per outing. He also volunteers weekly at CHI Memorial Hospital.
He and his wife of 41 years, Times Free Press public editor Chris Vass, have a son, Jay, who lives in Franklin, Tennessee.