On Dec. 12, 1966 Johnny Bough printed his first newspaper, which was the first issue of the Coles County Daily Times, and Dec. 12 2004 he printed his last newspaper, this issue of The Daily Eastern News.

“I think it’s kind of ironic,” he laughed.

Bough, press supervisor for The Daily Eastern News, worked at the Coles County Daily Times, through its name change to the Times-Courier, until 1982 when he began working the printing press at Eastern.

Bough says he has loved his job because it was nights, and he enjoys working with young people.

“You work with young people and you stay up with the times,” he said.

An Ashmore native, Bough said he grew up in a small town without much diversity. Eastern gave him the opportunity to be a part of different cultures and different lifestyles.

Bough looks forward to spending more time with his wife and grandchildren upon his retirement, when Tom Roberts will become press supervisor for The Daily Eastern News.

“It’s going to be strange,” he said. “Usually after we go places at night everyone goes to bed, and I go to work.”