About the Author

Barbara Ferrey-Laughon lives in her hometown of Bishop, California, where she works at Galen Rowell's Mountain Light Photography as an Image Licensing Specialist.

Barbara spent 15 years of her professional life at The Inyo Register newspaper in Bishop. She began her career there as cub reporter in the summer of 1987 and departed in 2002 as the General Manager/Managing Editor. The Register was like a second home to Barbara as her parents had worked in the commercial print side of the operation since before she was born. She grew up in the old steel building that housed the offices and began working there at the age of 13. Through high school and college, Barbara worked on and off at The Register in a variety of posts. Then in 2000 her second home was bought by a company based in Illinois and things changed dramatically. Two years later Barbara resigned, not knowing what the future held, but confident someone out there still valued ethics.

Barbara treasures her time at The Register and the friends she made through her work there; however, she does not feel out-of-town corporate ownership is a positive thing for a true community newspaper. She hopes to one day find her way back to progressive community journalism … if such an animal still exists by then.

Legendary photographer Galen Rowell and his business partner/wife hired Barbara to serve as Galen's personal assistant in July 2002. The Rowells were preparing to depart for a circumnavigation of the Bering Sea when they hired Barbara, so it was agreed Barbara would begin work Aug. 12, 2002. The Rowells died together on Aug. 11, 2002 as the result of a small airplane crash just south of Bishop.

Barbara assisted the Mountain Light staff in handling the flood of international media that followed the tragedy. She has been with Mountain Light ever since, working mainly in the Image Licensing Department. She also does some graphic design for Mountain Light as needed.

In her spare time, Barbara serves on the Board of Directors for the Bishop Mule Days Celebration and the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce. She also serves the media relations and advertising chairman for the Bishop Mule Days Celebration. She is also the honorary webmaster for the Bishop Eastern Sierra Mac User Group.

She and her husband, Paul, have been married since 1992. They have no children, just one cantankerous tabby cat named Nikky. Paul and his family own and operate a great Mexican restaurant in Bishop called La Casita. The restaurant started as Paul's mother's dream. Now Paul and his brothers work hard to keep that dream alive.

Like his wife, Paul Laughon contributes his spare time to various service organizations including the Inyo County Search and Rescue Team, Bishop Lions Club, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks No. 1603 and E. Clampus Vitus, Slim Princess Chapter. He is an avid fisherman and a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

In her leisure time, Barbara maintains this website, is trying to learn how to play golf and occasionally goes trout fishing with Paul. An avid fan of classic rock music, Barbara does her best to talk Paul into attending at least a couple concerts each year. A giving soul, Paul usually concedes and off they go to Las Vegas, Reno or Los Angeles.

Barbara is a loyal fan of former Foreigner lead singer Lou Gramm and a self-proclaimed closet Apple computer geek, a combination which led to the creation of this website. She remains amazed at the response to this site and is grateful to those who helped her start this project and to those who continue to contribute to its well being.

BEFL – 1/2007