RFS joined the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1911 as secretary to the publisher, W.F.Wiley, a position he held for 10 years. He first wrote "A Christmas Story" for the Sunday children's page, then contributed about every fortnight to various series with animal characters (Animal-land Tales), stories of children of Biblical times, and several on four boys that foreshadowed the Seck series. Edward Grueninger Jr. illustrated the early stories with wash and crayon work that was truly newspaper art. RFS also wrote book reviews and sometimes the feature "Old World Chitchat". He was in charge of syndicating the "Luke McLuke" series. In 1913, taking advantage of his hobby, he was the papers only photographer, using "one huge old box". In 1918, the editor of the Enquirer asked RFS to write something weekly. So, on February 3, 1918, the first Seck Hawkins story appeared in the children's section magazine.

"The Snow Fort", first appeared in the paper February 3, 1918. This was the first published story with the Seckatary character in it. Not projected as part of a series, just on its own, it was written in the third person. The story made quite a hit with the readers, so the editor, H.N. Hildreth suggested he write one story about that "gang" every Sunday. Seck was tempted, although he was also busy with Mr. Wiley's work, McLuke's syndication, assistant (1912-1920) to J. Herman Thuman - the music and drama critic; and he was local correspondent for the Musical Courier. But on 2/17/1918, he was finally persuaded by a dare from Wiley, and the first real extract from Seckatary Hawkins club diary was printed, running until 1935. 17 years on a dare. The Cleveland Plain Dealer ran them for 18 years (1923 - 1942). The early work became interspersed with a style of spelling and grammar that was indicative and ordinary to the young, even fascinating to them, but startling and alarming to some of the Puritanical elder educator. This was the realistic Hawkins' style to report exactly what was uttered; however, the Superintendent of Schools, Randall J. Condon, remarked that his children were trying to talk and write like Seck! That could only mean that the kids were reading with fervor, and Seck loved it. RFS promised Randall that since Doc Waters often looked over Seck's shoulder, that he would take more pains to advise him proper grammatical manners.

Newspaper Comic strip series ran from the 1920's to 1930's. The artist was Grandpa's good friend, Carll B. Williams (who also did the drawings for the books). Sadly, Carll died in 1928.

Second artist was another friend, Joe Ebertz (also did the drawings for the books and comic strips).

Cincinnati Enquirer coworkers have described RFS as:
The kind of guy everyone liked to know. He never met a stranger.
Dashing, affable, witty, bright, lovable - somewhat of a lady's man. (or ladies' man). He was said to be a joy to be around.

2/10/1915 - Married Julia B. Darnell and lived at 1012 Park Ave, Latonia, Ky. Where Robert Junior was born in 1917

RFS assumed the jobs of Photographer and reporter when no one else was available. He covered the tennis matches one year, and was perplexed at the girl stars that seemed to care little for their cosmetic appearance in those days. When coerced to report on tennis matches while Julia B was visiting her grand parents, he wrote that although it was great exercise, he thought it was a silly affair. He came to the conclusion that females who attended the matches were all homely, albeit fashionably attired; either because the game lures such ones or else they get homely from playing the game. This could be even more humorous since he was just courting Julia B at this time, and he was staying with her parents while she was gone on a trip. We don't have the response letter from Julia B, but imagine she noticed that he was noticing girls, homely or not.

He took a job at the Latonia, KY racetrack - worked as publicity man for the track and spent a lot of time there on his own. He loved horses and the betting.

1918 Wrote The Rejiment newspaper story

Worked and lived in Cuba for a short time in 1920 as a horse-racetrack publicity man.

He and Julia B took my dad and Ruth (6 months old). They leased out the Harvey home for one year, but returned early and had to rent Stacey Ave in Norwood for a while. Judy was born at Stacey Ave. They moved back to Harvey Ave when the lease expired.

1920 - RFS and Julia B' bought a house at 3029 Harvey Avenue, Avondale, in Cincinnati. Ruth and John were born here. RFS wrote the first two chapters of Cazanova Treasure in this house.

1921 - They went to Cuba and leased their Harvey Ave home for one year. RFS wrote the next six chapters of Cazanova Treasure in Cuba. When they decided to return to the good old USA early, they had to rent at Stacey Avenue until the other lease was over. Time enough for Judy to be born, then moved back to Harvey Ave.

Seckatary Hawkins in Cuba published.

1922 - The Rejiment published in the Seck Hawkins bi-monthly magazines which contained club news, an ongoing serial of Seckatary stories, radio news, member letters, contests for free books and Seck paraphernalia - Pins, spinners, flag banners, statue bookends, etc.

The first radio show was received on crystal radio sets as RFS read his "Mile A "Minute Milo" stories about a boy in a tiny automobile adventures. He got his own show, a Saturday evening half-hour on WSAI. The Milwaukee Journal's WTMJ featured him daily in the evening and for one hour on Sundays.

Some local Cincinnati businesses used RFS stories to sell their wares via boys clubs, newsletters, and give-aways:
"Little Joe Baker" - Banner Grocers Baking Co. pamphlets.
"Brushboy, a monthly R. F. Johnston's Paint Co. magazine.
1923 wrote Boathouse Boys bi-weekly magazines sponsored by Boathouse Coffee Co. using different characters than the Seckatary books and a boathouse built on stilts where boats were stored for 10 cents a week and the owners became club members.

Also produced "Rollman's Young Folks" magazine.

1924 - "Mile a Minute Milo" a fast car driving boy in and out of various adventures as he travels with his pal, Hap. (perhaps a prelude to TV's Route 66?). Pamphlets produced by Dunlop Clothes shop sponsor William Leibold, publisher, for Dunlap boy's club of Dunlap Clothes Shop.

1925 - RFS decided to become a full time writer, so he left the Enquirer.

1927 - Wrote The Stranded houseboat
1928 - Wrote Cave River
1929 - Wrote Little Gil
Wrote The Lavender Light

RFS bought a huge house on Victoria Blvd. The children went to Ursaline academy private school. Servants were Birdie and James who lived in upstairs on 3rd floor. Also employed were Oscar and Sophie.

During 1929-30 the radio shows were broadcast from the Chicago merchandise mart and RFS stayed at the Seneca hotel for the weekdays, going home on the weekends.

1930 - The Ghost of Lake Tapaho published; and Ralston published a 12 page comic book version of the Red Runners, 3 comic strips to a page.

1932 - Wrote The Mystery of the Belfry

The Enquirer and RKO jointly sponsored a real movie titled "Home Run Hawkins" with every member under 16 to be in it. Any member who showed up at the Palace Theater on Saturday morning would be considered for look-alike parts, and everyone would appear in the mob scenes. Robert JR was one of the stars. The Kemper Log Cabin at the Cincy Zoo, was used for the clubhouse and baseball scenes were shot at Redland Field (now Crosley Field). The film was quite popular and was shown to Cincinnati and Pennsylvania members. The Milwaukee Journal produced the same movie with its own club members and local settings. The Ralston Company made another movie.

1933 - Dr Drago and the Purple Light / Red Castle / Emperors Sword / Little Flower of the Sun and some short stories never published. Many manuscripts may remain forgotten in family storage. Old Jacoby, The Red and Green Mansion are two that may exist.

1934 - moved to Grovedale place behind Withrow high school in Hyde Park. The maid was Florence - a German girl.

1935 - moved to Herschell View near Ault Park.

1936 - Moved to an English Tudor house on Tremont Road in Upper Arlington, Columbus, Ohio. Girls went to Ohio State; Robert JR joined the Army; later John joined Army too. Accepted by high society, many fancy and expensive birthday parties were given for the children and some social adult gatherings too.

1942 - RFS worked as secretary (or was it seckatary) to Governor Bricker - in charge of Publicity and Development for the State of Ohio from 1942 to 1943. The family lived on Tremont Road in Columbus for those years. Seck resigned since he wanted to devote his time to something more creative than the routines of government service. The family moved back Halpin Avenue, in Cincinnati, where RFS went back to work full time for the Seckatary business.

After the business failure in 1945, he moved to more modest trappings at 3237 Observatory Road (at St. John's Place), Hyde Park, Cincinnati; then briefly to 1147 Halpin Ave and finally to 2560 Erie Avenue, Hyde Park, Cincinnati in 1946, where he worked in a third floor study, mostly at night. RFS occupied a second floor bedroom and den where he could work and sleep undisturbed for days if he felt like it, only emerging for the occasional meal. Here he contently lived his remaining years.

1943 - He returned to work for the Enquirer to conduct reader opinion surveys, and in 1945 was in charge of the library of the newspaper, he also wrote the "daily thought" for the editorial page.

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