Clarence Graham, for many a long time, was in the spotlight as editor of the News Journal.

Each and every Thursday, people today anxiously waited for his column to hit the avenue. If you were mentioned, be particular folks would enable you know. And soon … and this was in the days right before cell telephones or the internet.

Heck, I try to remember some of the workers — when the deadline clock was anxiously ticking — standing at the mild table, elbow poised on the glass, reading through Clarence’s each individual word.

This neighborhood hung on Clarence’s each and every term.

But the highlight is something Clarence by no means sought.

He was a personal man or woman.

But he realized it arrived with the task.

In the general public eye, Clarence was stern and, to some, unforgiving. He painted the picture with the sharpest of brush strokes.

If you screwed up, he’d let you know.

But for those who worked with him, he saved points in the relatives, so to talk, our Information Journal loved ones.

If you did a little something perfectly, he’d be there to pat you on the again or leave you a re-assuring observe signed the identical way each time.

He would, on the other hand, make selected you understood doing properly was part of your career. He anticipated the best out of all of us.

Clarence is the motive — for greater or even worse based on your level of perspective — I am in which I am and I do items the way I do. I think most persons who have been close to listed here a although know that … or, at least, get the link.

He was meticulous in his work. He predicted the same of me, some others in the newsroom. His expectation of perfection was pounded in to me from Day 1 in February 1987. You produce a cutline a selected way, not just some time, but all the time. I still do it that way.

When we’re on deadline, I was no lengthier the athletics editor. I was a Information Journal newsroom personnel and experienced to take a death discover or a Grange detect and get it completely ready for the paper.

Clarence wasn’t inquiring anything at all of us he would not — and did not — be expecting of himself in excess of the a long time.

Although Clarence was a taskmaster, he also cherished to have a great chortle. Numerous periods, when deadline had earlier and early function on the next day’s paper started and some of us experienced returned from lunch at the Small Large, we at times obtained slap-joyful. Involving the newsroom and composing space and the pressroom, we had several a wonderful time.

Clarence was proper in the middle of some of individuals. On event, he started out it. Most times, he just sat back again and relished a giggle with the relaxation of us.

But when it was time to function, he labored. And needed other individuals to work just as really hard. No issue the cause, he expected you to give an genuine work. A single time, right after pulling an all-nighter to get out a community preview area, I went to my condominium upcoming to Allen Studio and crashed.

Really hard.

So difficult, I skipped an assignment the Information Journal experienced lined every yr devoid of fall short. Clarence, in no uncertain conditions, permit me know that was not appropriate. Not for any purpose. He did this in entrance of other people in the newsroom. He was mad. The maddest I’ve at any time witnessed him and it was directed at me.

I’m absolutely sure he received calls about “why wasn’t this in the paper?”

I felt so small.

When he remaining the newsroom, after my verbal whipping, it was by no means brought up once more by him. I described it a time or two in upcoming decades we both chuckled. I never know that he remembered it. I really don’t imagine he saved these issues locked away. He was a inform but do not dwell kinda manager.

For me, Clarence’s biggest contribution to my tenure at the WNJ will endlessly be the Clinton County Athletics Hall of Fame. Again in the early 1990s, throughout my 2nd and even now ongoing tenure at the Information Journal, I was anxious with the existing. Just retaining up with everyday final results was adequate of a workload

But Clarence usually described Phil Snow or Gary Williams or Dean Cluxton or some title out of the past and their achievements. I experienced no clue on any of them.

I began seeking at old Information Journal’s from again in the 1960s when I had to take my flip at executing a 25 Decades In the past transient. These names Clarence enthusiastically uttered and their feats abruptly came to existence in words and images.

I believed, “We experienced someone enjoy soccer in the NFL? And AFL? And CFL? And WFL? Yep and it was just one particular man, Mike Wilson.

I was stunned. As a baseball history buff, I beloved the old things. But Clinton County record? Not so a great deal. Until then.

So I requested Clarence if, all through the summer season months when matters have been a minimal slower, I could stick my head in the microfilm device and exploration Clinton County sports record. Not just for the 25 a long time ago piece, but for no matter what could occur of it.

He wholeheartedly claimed Okay, but really do not let your daily operate fall at the rear of, he extra.

To make a brief story extensive (I’m good at that), my research uncovered so a lot of fantastic Clinton County athletes and athletics people in typical that a way to honor them seemed like the ideal point to do. Therefore the Clinton County Sporting activities Hall of Fame was born.

I really don’t know if this column honored Clarence. In the conclude, it does not make any difference. He would not have needed me to do it.

But these are some of my memories right after a few times of working with his dying. He intended the earth to me — and so several other Information Journal alumni.

I know he was knowledgeable of individuals emotions but would not have wished the attention.

Sorry, CG, you are worthy of it and far more, so considerably a lot more than these words can ever convey.

Reach Mark Huber at 937-556-5765, by using e mail [email protected] or on Twitter @wnjsports