NORWICH – He was always fair, say friends of the late reporter and volunteer firefighter Jim Wright, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 71.

The longtime Press & Sun Bulletin reporter covered the news of Chenango County for 42 years, filing his final story in mid February. In recent years, he was the paper’s Broome County police reporter.

“He’s been more than a reporter to me,” said Chenango County Board of Supervisor Chairman Richard B. Decker. “He’s been a good friend. He was always fair and wasn’t afraid to ask the hard questions.”

Decker, who was also a patrolman and later chief of the Norwich Police Department, said he could remember when Wright first came to Norwich in 1966. “We built a good relationship over the years,” he said.

The Press’ Assistant Managing Editor Al Vieira, who was also a sports editor for The Evening Sun in the late 70s, said Wright was “an incredible man and an inspiration to all of us.”

“He was a leader by example for our young journalists, showing them the value of thorough reporting and the importance of cultivating sources. Nobody was as dialed in to our police and fire agencies as Jim.”

“And on top of that, Jim was a friend to all of us. We will miss his smile, his wisdom and his absolute love for this business. Our newsroom will forever miss him.”