It's never easy to say goodbye and let go of someone special, but today the Times-Herald must bid farewell to long-time friend and sports editor Rick Moore.
Moore died Monday after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was 45. He is survived by his wife Denise, his father, one brother and three sisters.
Moore came to the Times-Herald in 1985 as a sports writer. By 1987 he was named sports editor, a position he maintained until his death.
Well known in the community, Moore's love of different sports was reflected on our sports pages. Though not a parent himself, Moore enjoyed working with children and coaching young athletes. Because of this, he made a special effort to get every scoresheet we received from any division of play into the paper, along with the names of as many kids as possible. He also made an effort to make sure we tried to get out to little kids' games for photos as often as possible.
For 20 years, Moore was the heart of the sports department. For many, he was the face of the sports department. You could ask him anything about some of the local teams and he could rhyme off facts and figures without consulting a book.
He did his job so well because, for the most part, he enjoyed it. And because of that, Times-Herald readers were well informed on local sports events.
When CanWest News offered us an invitation to nominate someone to send to the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Moore was our nomination. And it came as no surprise that with his credentials, he was chosen as one of only two in Canada to cover the games for the 52 newspapers across Canada - papers such as the Vancouver Province, Calgary Herald, Montreal Gazette and the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. He filed from several different venues every day, allowing our readers to see past the TV cameras and to read about what local athletes were doing.
A Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan, Moore enjoyed covering the Saskatchewan Roughriders no matter who the opposition was. His love of baseball was best manifested in his coaching, but he also enjoyed covering baseball games.
But his big love was hockey. And his team was the Moose Jaw Warriors.
His dedication to the team was rewarded in 2006 when the Warriors went all the way to the WHL finals before losing out to Vancouver. And Moore went all the way with them until the last two games at home in the final round when his illness landed him in the hospital.
Moore's real battle began to unfold within weeks when his cancer was finally diagnosed. He spent the spring of 2006 in hospital and by the time he was back up and about in summer, he was no longer the robust man we all knew.
But he worked hard at getting back to where he had been before the onset of cancer.
In November of that year, Moore and wife Denise travelled to Montreal where he accepted a Transcontinental Ovation Award.
The Ovation awards are handed out to only a few in the newspaper chain in recognition of outstanding work and the respect of the person's peers. Moore was a hands-down winner.
As his strength returned, Moore was able to get back out on the links enjoying one of his favourite pastimes, golf. And even after being laid up for some time and going through many rounds of chemotherapy, he was still able to beat healthy opponents.
The rarity of his cancer was hard for most to understand. We didn't know where this journey was taking him. And for a while, we began to think he'd beaten all odds and was on the road to recovery.
But our hopes were dashed.
It is difficult to lose an outstanding employee - and Moore was certainly that.
And it's hard to lose someone you respect, and readers respected Moore.
But mostly, it's hard to lose such a good friend. If people remember nothing more about Moore, we hope that they will remember his smile, his laugh, his profound kindness and his easy-going nature.
No one can ever replace him in many ways, but life goes on and people move forward.
At his request, no funeral service will be held. However, a celebration of Rick's life will take place at a time and location to be announced.
Times-Herald says goodbye
Rick Moore
Longtime sports editor Rick Moore loses battle against cancer at age 45
It's never easy to say goodbye and let go of someone special, but today the Times-Herald must bid farewell to long-time friend and sports editor Rick Moore.
Moore died Monday after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was 45. He is survived by his wife Denise, his father, one brother and three sisters.
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Comments
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- Kelly
- - September 18th, 2009
I am shocked to hear of Rick's passing. I started at the Times in 1989 and remember him well. He was a wonderful person and a great reporter. What a loss for everyone who knew him.
Advertising Staff 1989-1991 -
- Larry
- - September 18th, 2009
So sorry to hear the news about Rick. I am sad to say I did not keep in touch with Rick as much as I should have. I miss the days in Moose Jaw playing hockey and sharing stories with Rick.
He was a class act and a great person. He will be missed by a lot of people. -
- Jeff
- - September 18th, 2009
I had the honour of knowing Rick as both an employee and a friend. I was the sports editor of the Times-Herald when Rick came aboard and we soon became friends, spending time on the links, playing hockey with the Silver Bullets and filling the summer with slo-pitch games at Hamilton Flats. As much as Rick was a great journalist, he was an even better person. Denise, you have my deepest sympathy.
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- peter
- - September 18th, 2009
Moose Jaw has lost a GREAT one! My sincere sympathies to Denise. This article was an awesome tribute to a wonderful person. Well done!
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- Chris
- - September 18th, 2009
Good article. Rick was a very talented friend. He would have excelled reporting on sports anywhere in Canada, and chose to stay in Moose Jaw. The city and T-H were fortunate for the decision he made.
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- Alan
- - September 18th, 2009
While working together at the Times-Herald for five years during the 1980's, Rick and I shared many good times. From staying up all night most Thursdays (and back to work the next morning) to covering the Rider and Warrior games, Rick was the consummate professional with a contagious laugh and addicting sense of humor. He was popular, talented, and always fair in his unbiased treatment of everyone he met.
The most comical memory with Rick was in April 1987 when we drove his car from Moose Jaw to Winnipeg and had three tire blow-outs, at 110 kph, one at a time an hour apart. Two spare tires in the trunk helped the journey continue but the third was from a garage we hitch hiked to and from, 20 miles back. The trip home was much smoother with four new tires purchased in Winnipeg.
Rick was an excellent journalist, a great friend, and a true ambassador to the media industry. Rick will be sadly missed and always remembered.
Alan Murdock
Times-Herald photographer 1984-1989 -
- Allison
- - September 18th, 2009
Thank you for the touching and well written article honouring Rick Moore. I was privileged to work with him at the Times-Herald from 1999-2000 and mourn his loss along with many others.
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- Mark
- - September 18th, 2009
A great story about a great man. Good job to whoever wrote it during this difficult time.
Mark Taylor
Times-Herald photographer 2004-07 -
- Darla
- - September 18th, 2009
Rick was a cousin, and I was sad to hear of his passing. Many years ago (1985?) he wrote a column about one of our family reunions, and it was a kick to read. I remember that in it he had questioned Gram Hill's assertion that baton twirling ought to be an official sport (we had a baton twirler in the midst at the time). He will be much missed at any future family reunions.
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- Kevin
- - September 18th, 2009
Well said. I'm glad I got to call Rick a friend, he will be missed.
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- Drew
- - September 18th, 2009
An outstanding person and a true professional. I'm very honoured to have known Rick. Moose Jaw has lost one of its best!
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- Mark
- - September 18th, 2009
Sorry to hear. I have nothing but fun memories of him. Rick was a great guy.
