-
With Todd Odom’s retirement looming, it felt appropriate to capture the memory with my “pal” (actually one of Todd’s nicknames for me) of one final tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on Feb. 19. Thanks for everything.
In this industry, you develop a sort of subconscious “filter” on who – and who is not – your genuine friend.
What does not get talked about enough is just how often citizens will butter up to you, simply because they are concerned about how they – or perhaps, their athlete – will be portrayed in media.
Here in Graham County, of course, there is only one local news source: The Graham Star. So naturally, everybody is your friend … well, almost everybody.
But after a decade as a journalist, you tend to see through the act.
From the first time I met Todd Odom, I had no doubt where he stood. I never had to; he shot straight with me right off the bat, and I respect truthfulness over white lies any day of the week.
Our initial conversation revealed a golden nugget – for him, anyway. After finding out my alma mater was Gilmer High School in Ellijay, Ga. – home of the 18-time state wrestling champions, in case you needed a refresher – Todd quipped, “Oh I know Gilmer very well. We went down there a few years ago, and they whipped our butts.”
In later tracing the timeline, it was discovered that I was actually covering Gilmer sports at the time. How I missed a tri-match with Robbinsville is beyond me. We laughed about it and over time, I did my absolute best to provide adequate coverage for the storied tradition built here in Graham County.
Moving to a new territory is a daunting task. I have moved twice since cutting my teeth in sports journalism in Ellijay and each time, the number of folks I knew averaged … well, one. My boss.
By February 2020, however, I felt right at home in Robbinsville – though I was not sure the community shared the same sentiment just yet. Rapidly viewing Todd and his wife, Susan Crowe, as “friends” – not just work colleagues – I made two trips to cover state wrestling tournament that month: one to spotlight a pair of Lady Knights that compete in the inaugural state women’s invitational in Concord and another to the state men’s invitational at the Greensboro Coliseum.
They did not have to include me, but the Odom/Crowe clan invited the new publisher/editor in town out to dinner on both occasions. That alone was genuinely one of the nicest gestures I had received to that point – the first sit-down meal I had with athletes was with coaches, family and members of the Robbinsville volleyball team in 2019, in Murphy, of all places – but it was at the second meal (Ruby Tuesday on Wendover Avenue in Greensboro) that Todd said something, which solidified I was right where I needed to be in my career.
“Kevo,” he said in-between bites and laughter, “you’re a part of ‘The Ville.’ ”
I trust that he does not take that kind of distinction lightly, but I believe even deeper that he had no clue how significant that comment was to me. He may not even remember saying it, but it has stuck with me since.
Sunday, I was fortunate enough to attend his retirement ceremony. The full video is on grahamstar.com if you want to see the respect and admiration he has earned, but I was astounded by the number of individuals alone that traveled – some from hours away – to bid Todd goodbye.
However, one final story that was not regaled at the event – and I am certain few know – is how he helped me just a few weeks ago.
Todd called me and asked me to come by his office at Farm Bureau. Once we were through “shooting the breeze” (last word altered, since this is a G-rated product), he handed me a pair of papers.
It was his retirement letter.
Todd explained to me that after 21 years – and with all his children graduating this summer – he felt it was time to move along. But not only did he want me to be the first member of the media to know, he wanted me to break the story when he made it official.
Gems like that rarely fall into a journalist’s lap – especially nowadays – so we made an agreement that he would announce his retirement in a pre-recorded video, the day after the state men’s tournament and he would let me know right before he was going to post the video, so I could be the first to break the story amid the ever-increasing media war on social media.
And you know what? He held true to his word. Then granted me a 90-minute interview to discuss his life and career, which readers enjoyed in the Feb. 24 edition.
Thank you, Todd. You did not have to do that, but you did. Regional and statewide outlets – which often see people tripping over each other to get news to, while forgetting the local source that provides constant coverage – could have easily obtained this scoop, but Todd gave it to me. Selfishly, that meant a lot to my career.
Post-match interviews – whether on the mat or in his office – will simply not be the same. And yes, the coaching staff that remain will do a fine job of guiding the program for years to come, but without Todd, Susan, Ivy (who, despite my pleas, refuses to take over my commentary job on any other sport but wrestling), Aynsley, Kyle and Jayden at an event, there will be a noticeable void to fill.
Anyone who knows Todd Odom knows that he would not want this kind of recognition. The ceremony Sunday was overwhelming to him, yet perhaps one of the sweetest moments in a life filled with adversity.
But doggone it, Todd, just sit back and enjoy the tributes. You’ve earned it.
Kevin Hensley is the publisher/editor of The Graham Star. Because of Robbinsville’s success on the mat, he has been privileged to cover 13 state wrestling champions since arriving in Graham County. And no doubt plenty more in the future, all thanks to the foundation Todd Odom laid for the program.