Dearest Whyvillians,

Bigfoot Bill, one of Whyville's first and most jovial City Workers, is retiring from his position as City Worker this week. His last day will be July 4, 2005.

Bigfoot first joined the staff of Numedeon, the company that runs Whyville, in 1999. He'd often talk about travels to the Amazon, the Ganges, and other places, far-off from Pasadena, California. A student and a freelance writer at the time, Bigfoot joined the company to help with writing technical articles. He did more than that, though. Without Bigfoot, the Times wouldn't be the same, nor would Whyville itself. His contributions are too many to list.

Bigfoot's first article came out in one of the first issues of the Times. He soon found the voice he wanted to share with Whyville -- much like in real-life, it was a jovial, open and energetic voice, with a hearty laugh and a flair for funny wording. Bigfoot loves language and writing, but more than that, he loves helping people, and it shows. He threw himself into Whyville in those early years, striving to teach people about the Whyville Way through deeds and in writing.

Today, Bigfoot recently graduated from one of the most prestigious journalism graduate schools in the country, earning a Master's degree in online journalism. In next week's issue, he will write his goodbyes and thank-yous to Whyville. He especially wants to thank the thousands and thousands of citizens who have participated in the Whyville Times in his tenure here.

Bigfoot Bill -- not his real name, of course -- will move on to a position as a business & technology news editor. Some people might say that's a step up, from working with kids to taking on a "real job", but he would only laugh and say that nothing compares to working with and for a million kids, teens and adults in Whyville.

Let's all remember Bigfoot in the best way possible, by honoring his spirit of friendliness to everyone we meet. As his City Record says (in the words of "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure") -- "Be excellent to each other!"

If you would like, Bigfoot has asked that citizens write in about their favorite Times articles over the last five or six years. Tell us what they meant to you, how you might have been helped or inspired by something a Guest or Times Writer wrote down. (No need to praise Bigfoot -- he'd just get embarrassed anyway, and say that Whyville is about YOU, not him.)

In honor of Bigfoot's retirement, the Times will publish a deluxe edition of the paper next week. After that, I myself will go on a little summer break for the rest of July. The paper will resume in August.

Here's to Bigfoot. Whyville will miss you!

Times Editor