It was one of those calls you never expect and never want to receive. But it came just the same and stole the collective breath out all of us in the Beeville Publishing Co. offices Friday.

Our coworker and friend, Clyde Semar, had been killed in a motorcycle accident between Goliad and Cuero near the DeWitt County line on Highway 183. His wife, Chong, had been airlifted to a trauma unit in San Antonio.

Clyde, who managed the Action Printing portion of the company, had been a fixture here for nearly 22 years. If you ordered printing, needed copies or even a rubber stamp made, you likely dealt with Clyde.

Outside the office, you might have run into Clyde bowling or riding one of the motorcycles he loved, having been an avid rider since his youth. Those of us who were fortunate enough to work with him learned to appreciate a soft-spoken man who loved his family and was dedicated to his chosen profession, the printed word.

Local historian and author Margaret Moser noted of Clyde, he’d “been part of my life for a long time, almost 10 years, with Clyde helping me with my history and journals... ‘Salt of the earth’ is the phrase that comes to mind.”

In short, Clyde was a good man in a world largely lacking in them. He loved his two sons and was proud of them, sharing tales of their travels and works. He was also a proud grandfather of an infant granddaughter. His calm voice, gentle smile and easy laugh will be missed in these offices.

Our prayers go out to his family and for Chong’s recovery. We count ourselves blessed to have spent years working with a man like Clyde.