Larson says farewell to the Chieftain

After two decades behind the byline, longtime reporter and columnist John Larson is saying farewell El Defensor Chieftain.

His journey began in 2003, when he moved from Nashville to Magdalena. A brief stint at KMXQ radio with Virgil Vigil and George Funkhouser soon led him to the newsroom at the Mountain Mail. When that paper closed in 2013, a chance conversation with then-editor Elva Osterreich brought him to the Chieftain the following year.

“All told, it’s been 20 years as a reporter—my third career after radio and bookselling,” said Larson. “Reporting local news has been the most gratifying. Covering everything in Socorro and Magdalena, from village board and county commission meetings to drug busts to spelling bees, they were all important to me.”

He said some of his strongest memories are tied to stories that impacted readers directly, such as the proposed San Agustin Plains water project, the Mexican gray wolf and ranching issue, and farming and MRGCD concerns. But he also cherished covering schools and New Mexico Tech, and above all, meeting people.

“I loved meeting people and telling their stories. That was my passion,” he said.

Column writing soon became part of his identity at the Chieftain. Larson’s first column appeared in January 2014 and ran nearly every week since.

“The premise was to poke fun at our daily foibles and offer our readers an alternative to what goes on out in the world—sometimes goofy, sometimes personal,” he said.

His work earned awards from the New Mexico Press Association for columns and reporting in categories ranging from education and agriculture to business and the environment.

As for the business of newspapers, he is candid. “In no other media will you have its reporters and editor as neighbors, celebrating the same celebrations, asking the same questions,” he said. “The worst part? Worrying that you may have misquoted someone or got something wrong. That will keep you up at night.”

Looking back, he said the friendships and connections made in Socorro County have been the highlight of his career.

“Getting to know everyone has been the best years of my life. I could write a book. I think I will. Being able to tell the stories of the people of Socorro County has truly been a gift.”

Now, family is calling him east. With one grandchild studying physics at the University of Illinois and another entering their senior year of high school, moving closer to them in the Land of Lincoln is, he said, “a no-brainer.”