Seven years is a long time.

Well, it is to me at least. To some of the older folks reading this column, I suppose seven years is not that long, but for me at age 26, it represents a significant portion of my life.

I first started writing for the Longview News-Journal's sports page in 2002, just months after my own fledgling baseball career ended at the age of 18. My younger brother Daniel, who now covers Kilgore Bulldog football for this publication, was a part of the 2002 13-year-old Dixie Boys Baseball team that one the state title and eventually the World Series in Covington, Ga. Along the way, I wrote some articles for the newspaper and then-sports editor Bob Ward liked them enough to ask me to continue writing.

Believe it or not, I had never thought much about writing before that time. I did my fair share of writing in school, but never liked it enough to want to continue. Yet here I was, writing for the Longview News-Journal.

The following football season I was asked to cover the Hallsville Bobcats and I agreed, not knowing fully what to expect.

I still remember riding up the newly installed elevator at Bobcat Stadium with technology guru Mike Stanfield eyeing me suspiciously from the the other corner. I had somehow managed to bluff my way in the gate without a press pass, but Stanfield made it clear I would need reservations next week.

There was no doubt about it: I was a rookie and green in every way.

I don't remember that much about the first game, other than the fact that Hallsville came back to defeat the eventual Class 3A state champions from Atlanta, 16-13. One thing I will never forget is taking the same elevator ride the following week with Stanfield.

"That was a good article you wrote last week," he said almost reluctantly as we ascended to the press box.

I still have that article. Never underestimate the power of an encouraging word to a 19-year-old.

It's hard to believe that my tenure covering Bobcat football is now complete. When I finish up at Kilgore College in the spring, I'll be moving east to attend the University of Alabama and probably intern at the Southern Progress Corp.

As I walked through the dark, empty parking lot last Friday night following Hallsville's season-ending loss to Sulphur Springs, I couldn't help but reminisce over the last seven seasons.

I remember hearing whispers of "Oh, there's the new superintendent," when Greg Wright first came to town in 2004. I remember working with head coaches Roger Adams and then David Plunk, both of whom always helped me in any way they could.

There is Stanfield's wife, Ann, always the gracious press box host. There is Gary, Jesse and Brett, the radio crew always asking for scores, stats and the occasional prediction. And I can't forget Kevin Slocum, the Clemson Tiger fanatic with the adorable son. He and Anthony Doron (who will never let you forget he was named all-state in 1999) have handled spotting duties beside me for just about every game I've ever watched at Bobcat Stadium. Of course a list wouldn't be complete without mentioning "The Judge," who was so kind as to give a farewell word of thanks and wish me well over the public address system last Friday night.

Although Judge Smith said Hallsville wanted to thank me for seven seasons of coverage, I think I'm the one who should be thanking Hallsville. The kind people of Hallsville, who include more than I've listed here, helped my hobby become a career and made my job fun in the process.

Thanks for the memories.

(J.C. Derrick is a sports correspondent for the Longview News-Journal. E-mail: livin4christ22@gmail.com).