John B. Cox was a towering figure at the Gazette-Journal for more than 30 years. He had the reputation of a precise man, demanding of fellow employees that they meet their deadlines and keep feeding their ad and news copy to him and his hot, clanking machine.
Cox, who lived in Gloucester, joined the newspaper staff as its linotype operator in 1950, and keeping with him a line of type—called a slug in newspaper jargon—that stated “First line cast by J. Cox October 17 ’49.”
We do not know if that is when he started learning to operate a Merganthaler Linotype, or if he was substituting at the newspaper then. In any event, by the same time in 1950, he was a full-time employee.
Cox became foreman in 1973, following the death of longtime co-worker Charles Cesil, and continued in that role until his retirement in August 1976.
After leaving his full-time work Cox continued to fire up his linotype from time to time to cast type for job printing orders.
Along with his “first line” slug, he left ...