An appreciation of a great editor...

Ron Kaye sometimes used to stop by my desk as I was pounding out a story or blog item and loudly proclaim: "I set you free!"

He knew it, I knew it, everyone knew it.

After two decades in journalism, it was with Ron's staunch support that I launched the Out In Hollywood blog - a gay man's take on all things involving pop culture and whatever else I found of interest. It was the summer of 2006 and my role at The Daily News went from being very enjoyable to being an absolute and utter blast.

Ron encouraged me to break the chains of traditional journalism and to write from my heart. Along the way,. I found my voice.

What a gift.

Ron was excited by the blog's success and talked it up publicly on several occasions and also did so for others who had entered the online world and connected with readers. Then last summer came the cherry on the cake when Ron and managing editor Melissa Lalum gave me a daily column in the paper to make this more of a dream job than I ever could have imagined.

Today was Ron's last day at the Los Angeles Daily News after 23 years. He told us they had been the happiest of his life and that his three years as editor had been heaven. I wanted to publicly pay tribute to Ron here on the blog because without his support, there would not have been an Out In Hollywood and I would have never have been set free!

It is priceless and I intend to honor him by carrying on in this way no matter what the future holds.

To read about Ron's career and his departure, go to DailyNews.com