Muir to retire after 38 years in Baton Rouge

 

After nearly 38 years, including 33 as the executive sports editor, Butch Muir is retiring from The Advocate in Baton Rouge, La. Muir's last day is April 5, when he will be feted with a gala retirement party.

 

"It's been a great ride," Muir said in a recent story published in the Advocate. "Baton Rouge has to be one of the best cities in the country to be a sports editor. There's always something exciting in sports here. LSU's trip to the BCS title game this year is just one example of what it's been like over the years.

 

"I know I will miss helping plan our section's coverage of future events. Often, covering sports has been hard work, but just as often it's been fun. Mostly, though, I will miss working with the people at The Advocate. I've been here almost 38 years, and it's always been like a family. There are tremendous people publishing a fantastic newspaper."

 

Muir became sports editor in 1974 after working for 10 years at what is currently known as the Monroe News-Star in Monroe, La.

"I think Butch cares more about sports and the sports department and sports journalism than anybody else I know," Advocate executive editor Carl Redman said. "He is intense in his desire to bring south Louisiana sports to our readers.

 

"He has high expectations and manages in what I think is a very congenial way to get the highest quality sports journalism out of the staff. That's a characteristic that he has maintained over the years."

 

Muir’s retirement and related moves will mean changes in The Advocate’s sports department and web operation.

Assistant sports editor Joseph Schiefelbein has been promoted to sports editor. The transition began in January when Muir announced his retirement, but will become official April 6.

 

Schiefelbein began working part-time and as a freelancer at The Advocate in 1991 while he was a student at LSU. He graduated in 1995 and spent six months as the sports editor at the Natchitoches Times. He returned full-time six months later and has worked in a variety of roles. He was a copy editor for two years and covered LSU basketball, Southern sports and LSU football before being named assistant sports editor in March 2009.

 

"I am very proud that Joe will be taking the reins," Muir said.

 

Perryn Keys, who currently covers Southern University, has been named assistant sports editor and will move into his new position April 6.

 

Schiefelbein said The Advocate is accepting applications through Friday, March 23, for a sportswriter to fill Keys’ position.

The Advocate.com is also looking for a new online sports editor after Gary Laney departed for the GeauxTigersNation.com site that covers LSU as part of the ESPN.com network. Laney had spent a year and a half as online sports editor at The Advocate and two years covering LSU basketball and football. He previously was the sports editor of the Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise and covered McNeese State athletics for the Lake Charles (La.) American Press.

 

It is possible that Laney’s successor comes from The Advocate staff, although the web operation also is accepting applications.