Cleveland, longtime director at ABH, dies

Gary Cleveland, the man responsible for producing the Athens Banner-Herald for the past 29 years, died Sunday morning after succumbing to a brain tumor discovered in May. He was 63.

Cleveland served as production director for the Banner-Herald since 1980 and oversaw all aspects of the newspaper's operation, from building and equipment maintenance to technical operations to printing the paper.

His death represents a sad loss for the company, Athens Banner-Herald Publisher Scot Morrissey said.

"Gary worked tirelessly for his family, the Banner-Herald and for the community. It's a true loss for Gary's family and friends, and his Banner-Herald family as well," Morrissey said. "He will be greatly missed and always remembered for his dedicated and loving spirit, and his passing will deeply affect each and every one of us."

Cleveland began his long career in newspaper production at the Hartwell Sun in 1963 when he was a junior at Hart County High School.

His tenure with the Banner-Herald spanned 40 years, beginning with his first job as a production camera operator at the Athens daily in 1969.

Known as a diligent and hard worker with a penchant for anticipating and planning for every contingency, Cleveland built a reputation as one of the most experienced and respected production directors with Morris Communications Inc., the Augusta-based company that owns the Banner-Herald and a dozen other daily newspapers.

"He had a remarkable ability to cover every detail," said Jeff Wilson, who retired as the Athens Banner-Herald publisher in December and worked with Cleveland for more than 14 years. "His attention to detail was unbelievable. Even the most minute little thing, he would already have it planned in his head ahead of time."

Throughout the Morris company, production managers sought Cleveland's advice, said Wilson, who served as publisher of the Juneau (Alaska) Empire for 20 years before taking the Banner-Herald job.

"His expertise was unmatched by anybody, and nobody could match his intensity and energy," Wilson said. "He would do whatever it took to get the job done."

As a manager, Cleveland helped build a team spirit at the newspaper and was open to others

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