It was Billy Dennis who first got me into blogging. I had found his blog, “Peoria Pundit,” and was inspired to do my own reporting and publishing in a similar vein. Billy was generous and helped me learn the ins and outs of the blogosphere. He was always encouraging, even when he didn’t agree with me, and was one of my biggest supporters during the time I was blogging. He also encouraged me many times to start blogging again.

Well, I’m not ready to start blogging again, but I couldn’t let Billy’s passing go unrecognized here at The Peoria Chronicle. Billy was the “Blogfather,” as we bloggers called him. He died suddenly of heart failure at the age of 53 on April 3. You can read his obituary at Legacy.com.

For those in the blogging world, we’ll be having a Billy Dennis Memorial Blogger Bash at Whitey’s Tip Top Inn, 2601 N. Sheridan Rd., at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 11. Everyone is invited to come lift a glass (of Diet Pepsi, of course–Billy’s favorite drink) in Billy’s memory.

My condolences to the Dennis family. May you find comfort in your memories of Billy, and knowing how many lives he touched through his citizen journalism.