Roy Jacobson has joined the staff of The Record as a reporter.

A Tacoma native, he has 35 years’ experience in Western Washington newspapers and has worked as a reporter, photographer, copy editor, page designer, humor columnist and struggling wannabe cartoonist.

A history and political science graduate of the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Jacobson has worked for daily newspapers in Aberdeen, Bremerton and Everett.

“We are extremely fortunate to bring such a master newsman aboard,” said Record editor Brian Kelly.

“When I worked alongside Roy in the (Everett) Herald newsroom, I was always impressed with his calm and steady demeanor. Incessant deadlines, grumpy reporters, constant mayhem; he was unflappable.”

Jacobson will cover the Freeland area, as well as public safety and education. He replaces Spencer Webster, who left the paper in May.

Jacobson is somewhat new to the South End.

In semi-retirement, he spent five years in and around Scotland before returning to the states and washing up on South Whidbey, where he and his wife, Deborah, have a little house in the woods.

He enjoys basketball, squash, chopping wood, good conversation and, if there’s nothing else going on, doing nothing.

“It’s great to be able to work with such a creative staff,” Jacobson said.