Ron Henningsen met me for a “cool one” at Fahey’s Pub late on a blistering August afternoon in 1982 when he invited me to begin writing a weekly column for the Daily Record.

We had become good friends during the years in the mid-70s when I was “of counsel” at Warren Schrempp’s office (and I learned how to be a real lawyer, not an egghead, from my former students Dick Dinsmore and Tom McQuade). Like all attorneys in Omaha, I had been a beneficiary of Ron’s generosity at Omaha Bar Association functions and had run into him a lot during lunch when he was holding court at Angie’s on 10th and Pacific.

Ron had seen me quoted on politics and the law in the Herald and in interviews by Gary Kerr and Joe Jordan on tv. He got a kick out of calling me and saying things like, “Boy, did you get that wrong!”

“What would you like me to write about?” I asked, and Ron said, “Whatever you want!”  And that’s the way it has been for 40 years and more than a half million words. No censorship, no leaning on me to take sides, just pure “You’re on your own, buddy!” writing.

After Ron’s death in 2011, Lynda said, “Just keep it up,” and Jason Huff continued to offer me complete freedom of expression since taking the reins of the Record.

Back in 1982 Reagan was in the White House, a new guy, Bob Kerrey, was just being elected Governor. Norm Krivosha was Chief Justice of Nebraska, and Mike Boyle had already been mayor for a year.

I wrote about all of them and what was being decided at the U.S. Supreme Court, I griped about life in academia and cheered the rise of women’s role and leadership in the legal profession.

I shared with you the pride and joy in our wonderful, beautiful daughters and we wept with you at the illness and death of our remarkable Kate just six years ago this week.

And now the “perfect” grandkids, many of them right here in Denver, are in the fullness of young adulthood showering happiness on their Nana and Pop, as our two daughters, Margaret and Mollie, have turned the tables of life and explode their incredible generosity and love, and patience with the foibles of the geezer class, on their folks.

We’ll be back in Dundee and Aksarben to see Mollie and her guys, and maybe I’ll bump into you at The Bookworm.

As the man said, “It’s been a wonderful ride.” Omaha was a true home for us because its people made it welcoming and warm and exciting. But just remember, Denver’s only a Zephyr’s ride away, and I’ll see you again!

P.S.  I’d love to hear from you! dickshugrue@yahoo.com.