On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Oyehut three years ago, North Beach and Raymond were preparing to play the second half of a crucial Pacific League football game that had been suspended due to a halftime power outage the previous night.

Covering the game, I smiled as a familiar figure appeared a few minutes prior to the kickoff at Lt. Jim Davis Field.

Although he was scheduled for a rare Saturday off, I was far from shocked that my colleague Rob Burns showed up to roam the sidelines. Nor was I surprised when he remained throughout the balance of North Beach’s eventual double overtime triumph and even assisted with the post-game interviews. Even on his day off, Rob couldn’t resist the temptation to watch a good high school game.

His passion for youth sports was one reason why I was delighted when he succeeded me as the Daily World’s sports editor 2 1/2 years ago. That passion — along with his experience, job skills and camaraderie with others — were big reasons why I continued in a part-time capacity following my retirement.

Rob’s 18-year association with the World is in its final lap. He is leaving the newspaper next week to pursue a second career as a teacher and coach.

After the late Ray Ryan retired from full-time duty in the early 1990s, I’ve worked with six full-time sports writing partners: Pam Blair, Ben Moore, Jerrel Swenning, Jason Breitenbucher, Brendan Carl and Rob. Actually, Rob had two tours of duty at the Daily World, sandwiched around a 10-month stint at the Bend Bulletin in Oregon.

Ray was a unique talent and individual. For obvious reasons, I try not to compare the others. Each had particular assets they brought to the table.

An accomplished photographer in addition to being a fine writer, Brendan (who is also leaving the newspaper next month) probably was the most versatile. A self-starter who is now the well-respected sports editor of the Yakima Herald-Republic, Jerrel was a whiz at the then-new art of pagination (electronic page design).

Still a close friend more than 20 years after she left the World, Pam was so compulsively organized that she put together a complete listing of some 60 to 70 state track qualifiers — in alphabetical order. This tradition did not survive her departure.

Rob, meanwhile, has several distinctions that set him apart.

He and Brendan were the most fun to work with. Their running commentary about games they covered and calls they received made even difficult sports shifts enjoyable (although in many cases it was probably a good thing that these sessions didn’t go viral).

I’d also rate Rob high as a problem-solver. Some of those problems are now commonplace among print journalists, as dwindling resources and shifting deadlines have created unprecedented challenges for news and sports editors.

But even in the less stressful era when I was sports editor, I probably leaned on Rob for scheduling advice more heavily than my other co-workers. Perhaps because our priorities were so similar, he was invaluable in helping me find solutions when it seemed all but impossible to cover the bases with the available staff.

Adept at advanced technology (although he was on paternity leave at the time, he once learned a new computer system much faster than the majority of us who had attended a week-long training program), page design and social media, Rob was well-equipped to bring the World’s sports section into the digital age.

Perhaps most importantly from a personal standpoint, Rob was unsurpassed in compensating for my shortcomings.

Although I enjoy watching soccer, for example, I’m far from an expert on the sport. In contrast, Rob might be the state’s finest and most knowledgeable soccer writer and was more than happy to take the bulk of those assignments.

Rob was also a patient mentor in attempting (with attempting being the key word) to shore up my notoriously shabby technological skills. If he received $5 for answering all the basic computer-related questions I asked, he could afford to spend his winters in a condo at Acapulco.

Dedication? On several occasions, Rob undertook one-day round trips to Eastern Washington on little sleep to cover big post-season events in Yakima or the Tri-Cities.

Possibly because he still seems young to me (or I’m that old), I was surprised to discover recently that I’ve worked with Rob in a full-time capacity almost as long as I did with Ray. His familiarity with Twin Harbors athletes and coaches was a huge asset in a profession where the turnover rate is high.

Rob has experienced his share of adventures on the road.

Early in his career, he had finished covering the opening day of wrestling’s Mat Classic when he discovered a fully-booked Tacoma hotel had lost his reservation. After producing the credit card receipt, he attempted to remain inconspicuous while the hotel clerk evicted a none-too-pleased guest from his room.

Rob is the only Daily World writer to ever cover a Super Bowl — Pittsburgh’s controversial victory over the Seattle Seahawks in 2006. Although he never received credit for it, he was undoubtedly the only member of the massive media contingent to fly in and out of Detroit on the day of the game.

Several years later, Rob covered a Monday night Seahawks home game when a snowstorm and multiple accidents snarled southbound I-5 traffic. He actually arrived back in Aberdeen after I began the Tuesday morning shift. Those who believe I’m exaggerating, as a friend once did, can verify that story with Rob.

Two of Rob’s finest moments as a writer, in my book, came in dramatically different circumstances.

He was faced with a challenge in 2004 when he covered Lake Quinault’s 18-1 loss to perennial power DeSales in the state Class B baseball championship game.

His story, however, represented a textbook example of how to handle a lopsided defeat by a local team. Rob was compassionate without being condescending or sugarcoating the details of the contest.

While attending a send-off rally on the morning of the Montesano-Royal state 1A championship football game, in 2012, Rob was invited by a member of the coaching staff to sit in on the Bulldogs’ pre-game team meeting.

The resulting article gave readers an unprecedented fly-on-the-wall look on what actually transpires in a locker room prior to a big game. Rob’s work deservedly received considerable acclaim from readers, as the Bulldogs did their part with a 43-28 upset victory.

Kudos to the Montesano coaches for allowing Rob access to their inner sanctum. But it also demonstrated the trust Rob earned from sources.

He’ll be missed as a staffer, but Daily World readers are fortunate to have been exposed to Rob’s talent for 18 years. I know that I’m fortunate to have him as a co-worker and a friend for that long.

And all of us are fortunate that he’ll be remaining on the Harbor, where he’ll undoubtedly continue to be inhabiting the sidelines and grandstands at area sporting events.

Rick Anderson: (360) 537-3924; randerson@thedailyworld.com