When John Veasey passed away Tuesday it ended a 60-year back-scratching relationship between us.

John began his career with the Times in 1958, and his column was a must-read for Times subscribers. It was so popular that, even after his 2016 retirement with the Times, John continued his weekly column.

Veasey had a cornucopia of awards. The Gene Morehouse Award for Sports Journalism from Marshall and the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. The Premier Journalist Award from the West Virginia Press Association. Heart of the Community Award from Fairmont State School of Fine Awards. Community Service Award from the Marion County Youth Soccer Association.

As for the Veasey-Olesky mutual back-scratching:

For years I forwarded stories I had written to John that he would run in the Times. And when Monongah groups, such as the Monongah High Alumni Association or Susan Staron Sanders’ Monongah Christmas street lights committee, had trouble getting the publicity they wanted, I would pop a communication to John, who would use the information in his column.

And during John’s sportswriting years at the Times, when I was No. 2 in command in the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News sports department, I tried to hire John away with a pay hike. He declined because Fairmont and Marion County was imbedded in his heart.

We continued our mutual back-scratching beyond John’s retirement from the Times, and had reunions at WVU sports events over the years.

John wrote a full-page article with photos about me. It was headlined: “Olesky leads an interesting life.”

So did you, John.

John also wrote articles complimenting my sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville.

Veasey was preceded in death by his Father, Clifton Allen Veasey, mother, Laura Veasey and first wife, Marilee Hohmann.

He is survived by his wife, Rita Veasey of Bluffton, S.C.; and his brother, Allen Veasey of Crofton, Md. and Allen’s wife, Barbara Veasey. He is also survived by his son, Chance Veasey of Minneapolis, Minn. and his wife Keiko, stepson, Todd Corbin of Edmond, Okla. and his wife Victoria, stepson, Ryan Corbin of Sissonville, W.Va. and his wife Alison, brother-in-law George Hohmann of Charleston and his wife Malissa, as well as eight grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on April 20 at 2:30 p.m. at Life United Methodist Church, 3000 Technology Drive, Fairmont.

The asks that donations be made in the honor of John Veasey to the following organizations:

Sharing and Caring Cancer Support Group, Attn: Stella Hawk, 32 Birch St., Grafton, WV 26354.

United Way of Marion County, 112 Adams St., Suite 201, Fairmont WV 26554.

Salvation Army of Marion County, 1512 Locust Ave., Fairmont, WV 26554.

Life United Methodist Church, 3000 Technology Dr., Fairmont, WV 26554.

RIP, John. We’ll reunite again in the next life.