This is an opinion piece.

I received a text message from my friend Ray Melick on Thursday.

He was asking me about funeral details for longtime Huntsville Times sports editor John Pruett. He ended the text by writing, “It’s been a tough few days for legends.”

It definitely has been.

Last week, longtime high school journalist Rubin Grant died. I wrote about him in this space. He was honored with a celebration of life this week in Birmingham.

Earlier this week, Pruett died after a lengthy illness. He was 83.

When I started in this business in 1990, I got to know John well through my first boss at the Gadsden Times, Jimmy Smothers. They were best friends. They went everywhere together – Auburn and Alabama games, the Masters, the Heisman Trophy Ceremony. You get the point.

On a few lucky occasions, I got to go with them.

They both truly were legends in Alabama sports journalism and in the state of Alabama in general. Rubin was right there with them. It is not lost on me how lucky I was to begin my career at a time when so many of the state’s best sports editors and writers were still active.

John. Jimmy. Bill Lumpkin. Clyde Bolton. Jimmy Bryan. Phillip Marshall. Just to name a few. These were people I wanted to be just like. Still do.

Because of my association with Jimmy, I got to know all of them, and I received lessons in journalism that no college class could have ever taught me.

They were all very kind to me. They treated me like I belonged when, clearly, I didn’t.

John and I traveled to the 1999 NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis together to cover Chris Porter, Doc Robinson and top-seeded Auburn. Jimmy wasn’t with us on that trip. I can’t remember why. We drove from Huntsville to Indianapolis. The drive there was easy. The drive back? Not so much.

We were in John’s car, and, for about half the trip, he navigated a fierce snowstorm and hazardous roads. Thankfully – and by God’s grace I’m sure – we made it. The drive was harrowing to say the least, but the weekend was great, and I shared a lifetime memory with John Pruett.

John retired in 2008, and I haven’t seen him much since. I sincerely hope somewhere along the way I thanked him – not just for getting me home safely from Indianapolis – but for always treating a young reporter with genuine kindness and respect.

Sports journalism has changed a lot in the last 30 years. I’m sure those of you who grew up reading Pruett or Smothers or Lumpkin would agree. But what will never change in any industry or in life in general is the impact you can have on others simply by being kind.

John clearly impacted countless people through his writing. Journalism is a great platform to do so. I could fill this space with the awards he collected during a spectacular career.

More than that, though, he impacted people because of who he was and what he represented. He impacted people because he showed them respect and kindness whether they were a coach, a player or just simply a 23-year-old journalist looking to find his way in life after college.

When you spent time with John Pruett, you knew you were with a good man.

I’ll miss him, but I won’t forget the lessons he taught me and many others.

John will be honored Monday at Sherwood Baptist Church in Huntsville. Visitation is from 11-1 with a service to follow.

Coaching news

Antonio Ford is the new head football coach at Lee-Huntsville.

Former Springville head coach Jon Clements was hired as the offensive coordinator and QB coach at Pleasant Grove.

Mountain Brook athletic director Andy Urban has been named to the Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

Thought for the Week

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

Ben Thomas is the high school managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at bthomas@al.com.