In the beginning … there were three … now there are many more

Once Muddy River News LLC became incorporated on March 17, 2021, we needed employees.

We hired two to start.

Brittany Boll was brought on board to create content and help us rapidly grow our social media presence.

David Adam was hired to be the editor of the Website. Having known David for about 30 years, I knew two things: He was fair and he had tremendous work ethic.

David’s work ethic, Brittany’s creativity and my … whatever … got MRN off the ground (thanks of course to the initial investment from the Rapp and Kinscherff families).

This week, we say goodbye to David as he leaves us to go work for the City of Quincy. He will be a tremendous asset for them.

That means I’m left with Brittany (So I’m losing Adam, does that mean i’m left with Eve, er … Brittany? God help me … just kidding!) … and a few more people who have helped us grow over the last four-plus years (and a few more to come over the next month).

Muddy River News and Sports would not be what it is without David’s efforts. I wanted to take a minute to publicly thank him and let some of his colleagues have a few words as well (posted in the order of when they were hired):

It’s hard to imagine Muddy River News without David Adam. From day one, he’s been the meat and potatoes of our crew — solid, steady, seasoned, and absolutely essential. His depth of reporting, wealth of experience, and unwavering professionalism made him a cornerstone of everything we’ve built. But more than that, he made me laugh.

He dubbed me the tequila of the team — maybe a little unpredictable, definitely spirited, but always poured with heart. He saw early on how much I loved this company, and his belief in that meant the world. I have looked up to David and read his stories ever since my dad would pass me the Sunday papers back in the year 1996. It’s hard to imagine not hearing another story. I’m crossing my fingers for a book.

Now, David’s off to serve the City of Quincy — and while they’re lucky to have him, we’re feeling the loss. His stories went deeper, his standards were higher, and his sarcasm was always perfectly timed — especially when poking fun at my lack of SPORTS knowledge (yes, SPORTS!!). I’ll miss our daily back-and-forths, his thoughtful edits, and his steady leadership. It’s not every day you get to work alongside someone who’s both a mentor and a true original. Quincy’s gain is a bittersweet goodbye for us — but we’re cheering him on all the way.

Brittany Boll

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I had known David for many years but until I had the chance to work with him, I had no idea how talented he was. Not only in writing but organizing a newsroom and deciding what’s news and is not news. He never let personal bias taint his writing. It was all about the facts with David. Plus he was a great teacher for the younger members of our staff.

Not only that, but he is truly a good guy. He gives his time to youth sports and does it for the right reasons. I am very excited to see what he accomplishes in his next chapter. And even more excited to watch him enjoy the blessing of being a grandparent.

Ron Kinscherf

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David Adam knew the news and was dedicated to providing the best news coverage possible. Always has been, always will be. He never settled for delivering a ho-hum account of what happened or an incomplete report of what took place. He continually dug deeper and tried to uncover the nuggets that made a story better and more complete.

His dedication to the craft is inspiring and his willingness to work long hours to get the job done is unmatched. He lived and breathed the news for more than three decades. Old-school newsmen are difficult to find these days, but David was one of them, the kind that loved the energy of the newsroom and the chasing of a good story. That old-school vibe can’t be replaced, but it should be applauded.

Matt Schuckman

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Dearest Dadam, 🙂 

Thank you for everything you’ve done over the years — for me, for Muddy River News, and for this community. From the endless meetings and court cases you’ve covered and the countless articles written, to scheduling daily guests and keeping us organized and in-line around here (no easy task!), your steady presence and dedication have meant the world. You’ve worn so many hats — journalist, coordinator, voice of reason — and you’ve done it all with professionalism, kindness, and a great sense of humor.

You will be missed tremendously. The city of Quincy is incredibly lucky to have someone like you working on its behalf. I have no doubt you’ll continue to make a positive impact as the wearer of many hats- including the voice-of-reason cap- for the new crew you’ll be working with. I really hope they’re as cool as we are but, let’s face it, that’s just not gonna happen. 😉

Wishing you all the best in this next chapter — and thank you, truly, for everything.

Your friend,

How’s My Hair Hooper (Ashley Conrad)

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I am forever indebted to David. He gave me my first job — as a sports clerk at the Quincy Herald-Whig — when I came to Quincy in 2017 as an incoming freshman at QU and showed me the ropes of the journalism industry. If it weren’t for him and his brother, Joel — my high school baseball coach — I may have never ended up in Quincy.

David is one of the purest souls on the planet. He has been instrumental in the coverage of this community in more ways than could fit in these couple paragraphs. There probably isn’t a person in this city that he hasn’t covered or met in some capacity (not saying he’s old, of course!).

Thank you, David. This isn’t goodbye — we’ll forever be in touch — but rather a good luck wish in your new endeavor. Like anything you’ve ever done, you’ll put your all into it. Quincy is lucky to have you.

Shane Hulsey

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Muddy River News would not be a leading voice in Quincy and the surrounding areas without the leadership, dedication and integrity of David Adam. His work has informed our community, his apolitical voice of reason has helped define what Muddy River stands for and his influence has shaped me into a better journalist and human being.

In moments I’ve been consumed with overwhelm from the sheer magnitude of the issues facing our community and our society, David’s reminded me that eating an elephant starts with taking the first bite. In moments I’ve obsessed over something I did or didn’t do, or an approach I did or didn’t take, he’s reminded me that it’s easy to be the Monday morning quarterback. And in moments I’ve questioned whether I have the skill, the mental capacity and the stamina to do this job to the degree at which our community deserves, with the courage that this point in time necessitates, David has reminded me that the only thing I can do is my very best — and that sometimes, that is enough. 

I’m incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with David over these last several months. The impact he’s had on me both professionally and personally is immeasurable, and I’ll carry his wisdom and guidance with me for years to come. 

I remember learning about the classic journalist archetypes in media when I was in college: the Sensationalist, the Sleuth, the Corporate Hack, the Buffoon. And then there’s the Hero — the noble veteran with an unwavering commitment to ethics, justice and public service. The kind of person who doesn’t need to complicate being good and doing good, because it’s just who they are. That’s David. 

The local media landscape and this city as a whole are better because of David Adam, and it is because of David Adam that they will continue to grow and evolve to the benefit of all Quincyans. I wish him the best of luck in his new chapter — may he always be appreciated by his colleagues, his supervisors and the people he serves to the level at which he is undoubtedly deserving of.

Aspen Gengenbacher