Few cities are fortunate enough to have a columnist like Dan Rodricks, who is retiring from The Baltimore Sun after more than 48 years of chronicling the area’s stories through deeply reported and beautifully told tales of Baltimore and beyond. His thorough knowledge of this region and lyrical storytelling skills have earned him a dedicated and special following.

Dan has long been a vital voice in The Baltimore Sun and a fierce champion of our city and state. For nearly half a century in Baltimore, through his column, news articles, radio and television broadcasts, books and, most recently, his thoughtfully written plays, Dan has shared the stories that make Baltimore unique, capturing its wonderful appeal and its stubborn challenges with insight, wit and empathy.

So as Dan steps away from his column, which celebrated its 46th anniversary this past week, it is only fitting to reflect on his legacy and the deep connection he has forged with our community. While we at The Sun will miss him, we appreciate how rewarding it was to have worked with and learned from such a seasoned journalist who understands so much about this state. He also happens to be a caring and thoughtful colleague.

Dan’s tenure with The Sun has been extraordinary. Few journalists have chronicled the heartbeat of a city with such consistency and depth. We believe his local column is the country’s longest-running of its kind and one we are proud to have published for almost five decades.

He covered the disappointment of government corruption and the heartbreak of our region’s tragedies. He helped hundreds of people get a second chance by finding them jobs, and he provided a platform to so many when no one else was listening. He helped us celebrate major achievements like graduations, cutting-edge innovation, groundbreaking solutions to the region’s problems, world championships and so much more. He even offered those signature “Nobody asked me, but” columns to provide his thoughtful and sometimes lighthearted suggestions on how we could all do and be better.

I believe Dan’s greatest skill is to inspire us to think, even when we may not agree with him. As a Baltimore native who has been a loyal reader of his work since it first appeared in 1979, I have seen his columns spark countless conversations that have shaped our collective understanding of Baltimore and Maryland. People in power may not have liked it when Dan called them out for something that needed to be said. But they certainly made sure to read his column, and perhaps, to rethink their position even if they were frustrated with his view on the subject.

As we bid farewell to Dan, we know it’s impossible to replace his words and world view. What we can promise is that we are seeking more voices to help tell even more stories about the people in this region.

Today, let’s salute Dan’s remarkable career at The Sun. We are proud of his award-winning work and grateful for the legacy he leaves at this news organization. Though his column may be retiring after Sunday, we look forward to the stories he will tell during his next chapter.

On behalf of all of our readers, thank you, Dan, for being Baltimore’s voice, advocate, and an exceptional reporter and storyteller.

Trif Alatzas is The Baltimore Sun’s publisher and editor-in-chief.