Opinion: Job No. 1 for Twitter-boss Musk, of course Hammond's surly, career employee, obit observation

Greeson thumbnail for lead photo only
Greeson thumbnail for lead photo only

So Elon Musk is buying Twitter. You may have heard about it; it made most of the news shows.

The narrative is spinning so quickly that Musk is either Thomas Jefferson of the 21st century or a modern megalomaniac with a massive checkbook to back him up.

I wish we could all view a super-successful businessman buying a tech business as anything more than good business. My hopes are high for Musk's foray into social media. Still, Musk being hailed the savior of my First Amendment rights feels like a super stretch that would cause Simone Biles to pull a muscle.

Heck, I just want ol' Elon to give Twitter an edit button to save me from my fat thumbs.

Short fuse, short-timer

Did anyone really expect anything different from Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond?

I'll wait.

Hammond, who has come under more criticism than Dr. Fauci or "Caddyshack II," held a news conference Thursday about complaints about violence at Silverdale Detention Center.

"As sheriff of this county, my job is to protect the lives of my officers first, the citizens of this community second and the inmates third," Hammond said Thursday.

Unless your cousin Eddie or your Uncle Joey is locked up, it's hard to take issue with Hammond's priorities - especially as the county's biggest badge. Hey, at least the prisoners - you know, the folks that lost their freedom by breaking the law - are in the top three.

Now if Hammond had said, "They're No. 3 - with a bullet," well that may be tough.

Moreover, was anyone surprised that Hammond, who is calling it a career after a professional lifetime in law enforcement, was defiant? Dude is the walking, talking example of a short-timer, and all those complaints and criticisms will fall to Austin Garrett come the fall.

And here's betting everyone - Hammond included - is pretty happy with that.

Office fixture

OK, we all know those folks who have been at a company seemingly forever, right?

Heck, my father worked for the same electrical contractor in Atlanta for a smidge under 50 years.

Well, Pop had nothing on Walter Orthmann. You see Walter, who turned 100 earlier this month, has been verified by Guinness for having the world record for longest career at one company.

In January, Walter celebrated his anniversary at ReneauxView, a textile company in Brazil.

The 17th of that month marked Walter's 84th year with the company, which was Industrias Renaux when he joined in 1938.

Buckets, I bet his 401K is fat.

Obit observations

Family-owned businesses that stretch back as far as Jackson Furniture in Cleveland are invaluable pieces in the fabric of a community.

Ron Jackson, the longtime CEO in his family's furniture company, died earlier last week. He was 77.

After studying at McCallie and Emory University - and time in the military with the Air National Guard - Ron took the reins as president in 1975 of the company his father, Ray, founded in 1933 with $30 to his name.

The reaches of a company with roots that long and old in a city like Cleveland is hard to pinpoint. Think of how many families made their livelihoods there, how many parents supported kids - or vice versa - because of the jobs at Jackson.

And that's not even to mention the millions and millions who have sat on Jackson products back from the days of listening to the family radio to modern days watching a flat-screen.

Rest easy Mr. Jackson, and thank you, sir.

Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6273. Follow him on Twitter @jgreesontfp.

View other columns by Jay Greeson

photo Jay Greeson

Upcoming Events