It is with a sad and heavy heart that we bid farewell to our fearless leader of nearly four years.

Adam Smith is stepping down as our editor here at The North Jefferson News.

As we look back over the past four years together, I laugh uncontrollably. Adam came into our offices like a lion. He wanted changes made and he wanted them done fast. He was the boss and we all knew it.

As time ran on, he finally softened a little, not in the fact that he wanted things done his way, but in the fact that we chipped away at his hard exterior shell and found the jewel of the person beneath.

One of the things you may not know about Adam is that he is an avid music lover. I would say he loves music of all kinds, and that would be a lie. Adam only likes weird music that makes dogs cry. I guess it’s called “indie,” but his love of music doesn’t stop there. You can ask him any question relating to any form of music and he can answer it. Sometimes I would google music questions to try to stump him, but to no avail.

Other than music, Adam has a strong love for brownies. Ah yes, the temptation is strong on those summer days when it’s about 2 p.m. and we could all use something to pick us up. One of us would be chosen as the chocolate runner and be assigned to get a list of sweets needed to keep the office going. Adam chooses either a brownie or a cookies and cream candy bar every time.

One thing I will most miss about Mr. Smith is the way that we would cut jokes during formal dinners throughout the years. There is always a hub of excitement around our table because of the laughs and giggles that come from Adam’s dry jokes and my inability to hold in laughter. Everyone in the office benefits from a good forwarded e-mail or joke told by Adam.

Although he smokes far too often, Adam’s smoke breaks allow time for me to make stupid faces through the window at him while he’s not looking. That is a secret happiness that only I have known about until this moment. Most faces only come out on days that he is in a grouchy mood and I’m not bold enough to do them to his face. And yes, he can be very grouchy when the mood hits him right.

Another thing I will miss about Adam is the fact that his lovely fiancee, Lensey, sends him delectable treats of cookies, popcorn and candy when he is sick or overwhelmed. When these treats are delivered, the whole office gathers around like Christmas morning to partake in this goodness. I’m going to miss Lensey, too.

Every Monday we try to catch up on each other’s weekends. But no weekend we’ve experienced could ever equal Adam’s stories of Christmas Eve with his family. He is very close to his mom and dad and they hold the center to many of his exciting tales of his life.

So, today I say farewell to one of my dearest friends, favorite bosses and “work husband.”

You will be greatly missed, but never forgotten. May your new, married life be 10 times better than the one you’re leaving behind.