Friday marked the two-year anniversary of my first day with The Demopolis Times. And there is truly no more fitting way to mark the occasion in my mind than for that date to coincide with the release of Profile 2010.

This year’s installment of the annual Times’ section focuses on just a few of the people who make Marengo County great. That’s appropriate for me because it is the people who have made my two years in this county invaluable.

When I was offered this job two years ago, I intended to stick it out for two years, shop my resume and see what the next step on my career path would be. But Rob Pearson passed along an idea that he had heard from someone else. During that first week, he sent an e-mail to welcome me to the community and told me that if I wore out a pair of jeans in Demopolis, I’d never want to leave. Rob probably doesn’t get told he’s right very much. But in this instance, he was right.

For the last two years, I’ve worked with and gotten to know some of the most amazing people I’ll ever meet in my life. And through issues like Profile 2010, I got the opportunity tell some of their stories. That’s a pretty cool gig if you ask me.

Over the last two years, I’ve had numerous people tell me that they think I’m going to leave Demopolis for greener pastures. I’ve been told that I could find success in larger communities at more widely-read publications. And while I appreciate those sentiments, I have to say that nobody is too good for this place. Despite the lack of a 24-hour joint where I can get a waffle, Demopolis and the surrounding area is nothing short of fantastic. And it is that way because of the people who live and work here.

Think about it. I get to spend my days telling the stories of people young and old, athletic and not-so-much. Over the last two years, they have ranged from coaches, players and teams to breast cancer survivors, retired history teachers and little old ladies who still find ways to discreetly do tremendously big things.

They are the lifeblood of our community and for the last two years, I have gotten to profile them and their contributions. What a cool job.

Jeremy D. Smith is the sports editor of the Demopolis Times.