I made a Facebook post last week about a new Freelancer that I was working with at the Kentucky-North Carolina game. His name was Bill Luster, and we were both working for the Louisville Courier-Journal. That post wasn’t fair to my non-photography friends because it was a joke! Bill recently retired from the Courier-Journal after many, many, years. Bill actually has file photos of Daniel Boone. He’s been around that long. He’s a legend in the business, known all over the country.

Bill was instrumental to me when I first left Eastern and started my own photography business in 2004. He was in charge of the photo desk for a while at the CJ, and it seemed like everyday I was getting a call that began with, “Hey Tim, this is Luster, can you go Harlan County and send us an A1 Center Piece by 6:30…Thanks!” I never knew what to expect when Bill called, but that taught me to always be ready, for anything. He was a great mentor.

Bill catches grief over his height, or I should say, “lack thereof.” But he’s a great guy who takes it all in stride.

Glad to have you on the Freelance side of things Bill. Just keep in mind, there ain’t nothing free about freelance, so take it easy on the rest of us. We still need to work.

Those of us who freelance for the CJ have to put the words “Special To The Courier-Journal” in our photo credit. We told Luster that day at Rupp, that after 40+ years at the paper he could finally be considered Special.

This is a black and white frame that I grabbed a few years ago of Luster in the tunnel between the paddock and the track at Churchill Downs.

Bill heading out to a muddy track during the 2010 Kentucky Derby.

Hiding out behind the Blue Curtain at Rupp Arena. I started to make a Wizard of Oz reference here, but nah!

The Kentucky-Louisville game, Commonwealth Stadium 2011