Burgess, sports editor since October 1995, started at The Olympian 20 years ago as a part-time sports reporter. Burgess also served as assistant city editor, city editor, assistant news editor and senior copy editor.

"I've had fun all my years here," Burgess, 52, said. "It hasn't always been easy, but it's always been fun."

Burgess also was a copy editor for the Anchorage Times, editor of two weekly newspapers and a free-lance magazine writer.

"While some people in the community said I favored Tumwater High, Timberline High or Capital High, I didn't go to any of those schools," Burgess said. "I did go to a school fairly close by though."

He graduated from Eatonville High School in 1970 and from Washington State University in 1974.

The Olympian's sports section grew under Burgess' leadership, including expanded coverage of high school sports, the outdoors, golf and motor sports.

Burgess' easygoing style and willingness to reach out impressed Leola Wheeler, River Ridge High School athletic director.

"I remember going to a meeting that Mike had with athletic directors, coaches and members of the community to find ways to improve sports coverage in The Olympian," Wheeler said. "I've always felt that Mike was easy to deal with and was open to suggestions."

Co-workers said The Olympian's newsroom won't be the same without Burgess news sense, curiosity and wry sense of humor.

"Mike has been a valuable newsroom leader because of his knowledge of the community and his enthusiasm for the job," said Vickie Kilgore, executive editor. "He could always be counted on at our daily planning meetings to bring creative ideas to the table, and he would not hesitate to speak up to reflect reader interests.

"He will be missed as a friend and colleague. At the same time we wish him well as he begins this new chapter in his life."

Mike Oakland, editorial page editor, worked with Burgess for the past 20 years.

"For the last 10 years, Mike has worked more or less behind the scenes, as sports editor," Oakland said. "He wasn't the reporter interviewing student athletes or coaches, but as the editor of that section he made certain those important local stories got into the newspaper along with a rich mix of state, national and international sporting events," Oakland said.

Oakland said Burgess often spotted stories before other journalists.

"While Mike has been a skilled editor, he was a fine reporter, too," Oakland said. "Particularly memorable to me is a series of stories Mike did on steroid use among athletes. He focused on the dangerous health consequences.

"Today, Barry Bonds and a number of other famous athletes are caught up in a national scandal over steroid use. Mike Burgess had the instincts to recognize that important story 20 years before it grabbed national headlines."

Barbara Burgess, his wife of 31 years, wondered whether her husband will ever really leave journalism and writing behind.

"His life has revolved around journalism," she said. "It's been a really tough decision for him to leave The Olympian. He's thought about it a lot."

Mike and Barbara Burgess have two daughters. Brittany is a junior at Tumwater High School and Hillary is a junior at Western Washington University.

Burgess said it feels strange to leave the newsroom.

"I feel like I'm getting ready to go on vacation," he said.

Barbara Burgess was quick to say that her husband has plenty of work left to do.

Mike will be plenty busy working in the family sign business, SignCrossing.com, and continuing his cedar salvage jobs in the woods, Barbara Burgess said.

"He's not retiring -- he's having a career change," she said.