By By LYDIA GRIMES – features writer
Brewton resident Bruce Long had an up-close and personal relationship with The Brewton Standard when he was a small boy.
The job taught the young Long the value of hard work.
The Brewton Standard, which celebrates 100 years under its current name this year, was an important part of the community, Long said.
While he had a hot commodity to distribute, delivering the newspaper was not exactly an easy job, Long said.
For Long, the job helped introduce him to other employees who became friends. &#8220One of my best friends back then was Steve Morton,” Long said. &#8220He was the typesetter for The Brewton Standard. He and his wife were golfers and I used to be their caddy on Sunday afternoons. All of this was when Mr. Brooks was the owner and publisher.”
Brewton resident Helen May Hildreth's mother, Margaret Bell, was employed at the newspaper even earlier. &#8220My mother was the proof reader for the newspaper when it was still The Standard Gauge,” she said. &#8220She was a great speller and she didn't even finish high school.”