I’ve built a career that has spanned across the United States. I grew up in Ohio, went to college in Indiana, made a run at professional umpiring in Florida and then made stops as a journalist in Oregon and Texas.

I’ve won the Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in journalism multiple times. I’ve met every living president, though, in the presidents’ defense, most of them were not in office at the time.

I’m listing my resume to explain that perhaps my biggest accomplishment is how many mascots I’ve been photographed interviewing. When I started with the network back in 2015, they would ask for pictures of me holding their microphone flag [which would lead, after a management change at WBAP, to accusations I was putting the network first. It’s not as though the station had bigger problems they might have been focused on].

Westwood One wanted pictures at major events for publicity.

Naturally, I started sending them pictures of me interviewing mascots.

This started one morning, as things often do, at Chick-fil-A. A new location was opening, and I was interviewing people who were camped out to be on the first 100 people and score free food. One of the photographers at a TV station suggested I speak with the cow.

The Chick-fil-A cow, Doodles, who really does have a name, couldn’t have been more accommodating. He really looks like he’s got something to say.

I decided to make this a mission.

The gang at Westwood One could not have been a bigger delight to work with. Naturally, to show my support, I took this mic flag situation to the next level.

A few months later, I met Buc-ee the Beaver at the opening of its store in North Fort Worth. Buc-ee was also nailing the interview portion.

He looks less like he’s saying, “C’mon, everyone. Chikin’s great!” and more like he’s giving a thoughtful analysis of why he expected the location along 35W, near the speedway, to be a good spot to open a store in North Texas.

“Racing fans love Beaver Nuggets,” he could very well be explaining.

My interview with a beaver and cow bring us to a couple more solid mic flag shots:

I do not recall what I was covering at the Ft. Worth Zoo, but the PR person could not have been more delighted to snap a picture of me holding the giraffes accountable.

At a separate event down the street at Ol’ South Pancake House, I had an exclusive interview with a penguin.

But I’ve also taken pictures with mammals:

I met General Patton when the Commemorative Air Force moved from Midland to Dallas. Everyone’s been incredibly supportive of this ridiculous picture situation. General Patton told the photographer to wait a second, so he could get a more stern look on is face.

Flipping through old pictures now, I’ve been pictured looking serious in hurricanes and interviewing actual newsmakers.

But I’m still enjoying pictures where we appear to look serious. Which brings us to the Salvation Army’s launch of its annual Red Kettle campaign this week.

The Salvation Army posted a picture of me in an actual interview situation. I was more excited to take a picture with the Red Kettle.

I also sidled up to Rowdy, the Dallas Cowboys’ mascot. The Salvation Army’s PR person took several pictures, then asked me to take pictures of him with Rowdy.

This got me to thinking. I’ve nearly got a complete collection of all the mascots of professional sports teams in DFW. I just need the Dallas Stars’ Victor E. Green, who, I’ve just learned is named for the shade of green on his fur. I’ll probably need to learn to ice skate.