Clarence Hill: Thank you, Fort Worth and the Star-Telegram. I will always embody your fighting spirit

For once, I am at a loss for words.

A kid, who always got in trouble in grade school for talking too much in class, is finding trouble putting his thoughts and feelings together.

Watershed moments will do that.

Tears were shed over this decision. And this comes from a man who is typically unemotional when it comes to his personal life.

But here it goes: My time at the Star-Telegram has come to an end after 29 years.

I could have sworn it was 30.

But the paper has me down for 29, including the last 27 years as the Dallas Cowboys beat writer for the Star-Telegram.

Of course, it’s well known that the Cowboys stopped winning championships when I showed up. They have just four playoffs wins during my tenure.

It’s also known that my tenure covering the Cowboys has been dotted with a litany of controversies, scandals and salacious stories outside of football.

Coach Barry Switzer got arrested at the airport with a gun during my first training camp, which also included the remnants from the Michael Irvin drug trial.

There was Irvin cutting Everett McIvor during a scuffle over a haircut,

Jerry Jones once stuck me with a bill for 23 margaritas in San Antonio.

Starting quarterbacks Quincy Carter and Tony Banks shockingly cut in training camp.

Terrell Owens doing his best Tour De France on the bike during Bill Parcells’ tenure.

Head coach Dave Camp dancing in the cage in Wichita Falls and wearing a wet suit on Hard Knocks and the infamous “glory hole” line from Jones.

All these things happened during training camp.

And, of course, the Cowboys just finished a camp two days after a player’s hotel room caught on fire, burning his and his roommate’s belongings.

But this is not about that.

This was my final Cowboys camp with the Star-Telegram.

I have taken on a new endeavor. I will still chronicle the Cowboys on a daily basis.

So, the Chill Jinx remains.

What is changing is my relationship with the Star-Telegram and my deep personal connection to Fort Worth and Tarrant County.

I was hired as the high school sports coordinator, covering Fort Worth ISD, Tarrant County and all high schools west of the city.

Before he became a legend on the college level with his innovative and explosive offenses, I watched Art Briles bring state championships to Stephenville.

I was there when former Donald Trump presidential appointee Jack Brewer led Grapevine to its first state title in 1996.

I loved covering O.D. Wyatt track and chronicling the Criss family, as dad and both of his sons became head football coaches there.

Of course, the Arlington Heights run to a state baseball title in 1996 has always been a favorite memory.

And then there was Dunbar basketball and the legendary Bob Hughes, who told me I got demoted to the Cowboys from covering his Flying Wildcats.

That always stuck with me. His recent death was as personal to me as a family member. No coach has impacted my life and coverage of sports like Hughes.

And when I got to the Cowboys, it was a dream come true. I grew up in tiny Schulenburg, hoping to follow Tony Dorsett in the Cowboys backfield.

I ended up working every Sunday at Texas Stadium — like Dorsett — and now at AT&T Stadium, detailing every transaction, transgression and touchdown. I embodied the spirit of Fort Worth for the last 27 years.

We might not be as well known and may not be the biggest, but the Star-Telegram was never and will never be outhustled or outworked. We will treat you right and with integrity.

And we will have a funky town good time along the way.

And by the end of the day, you will remember our name.

Shout out to Josie Karp, Kevin Lyons, Ray Buck, Jennifer Engel and Mac Engel (yes, I worked closely with husband and wife), Rick Herrin, Carlos Mendez, Stefan Stevenson, Drew Davison and of course the Hall of Famer Charean Williams for being my co-pilots over the years.

Many thanks to the editors who have helped clean up my copy along with way, the litany of co-workers and Star-Telegram management who navigated my social media content with gnashed teeth and balled up fists at times.

Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is no more.

But this not a goodbye. I will see you at the next Cowboys game at the AT&T Stadium.