Ora “Red” Thombs of Wadsworth, a BJ printer for 34 years, passed
away Thursday, January 6 at the age of 87.
Red and wife Shirley were among those who filed the printers’
lawsuit, with $2,500 of Dave White’s money funding the start of the action,
that cost the BJ millions and restored retirement and insurance coverage than
the BJ’s later (non-JSK) owners discarded. The judge pointed to the clause that
JSK put in the contract as the damning evidence for the BJ.
John Olesky filed on behalf of Guild retirees. In John’s case, he
saved $60,000 in 8 years (retroactive insurance payments after the lawsuit was
settled plus $2 prescriptions no matter how much the cost was for the
medicine).
When BJ management tried to pressure John to seek employment
elsewhere after the management breakup of the State Desk where Pat Englehart
had such power because of his loyalty to the reporters and their loyalty to
him, the late Terry Dray, at the BJ 33 years, and Red Thombs told John: “We’ll
take care of you.” Management had
isolated or exiled Pat, Harry and me (I was made Makeup Editor). Terry and Red kept their word. Every time I
was on makeup on Saturday night the Sunday BJ was published on time. When I was
on vacation the BJ mysteriously was late. After months of that I was called
into Bob Giles office with Al Fitzpatrick present and they told me, “We guess
you were just a square peg in a round hole.” Terry and Red saved my job and
eventually I became TV Editor, newsroom electronics coordinator and benefitted
the BJ by $5.3 million by 2 of my tactics.
I will forever be grateful to Red and Terry for having my back when
it counted the most.
I visited Terry and wife Cecily in their Avon Park, Florida home
several times and at the Sea Castle 2-story complex that my My Mona Lisa and I
rented for a month every February on Siesta Key, adjacent to Sarasota.
Red’s obituary:
Wadsworth -- Ora E.
Thombs, "Red", 87 of Wadsworth, Ohio passed away January 6th, 2022.
He was a lifelong resident of Wadsworth, except for two years spent in Milton,
Florida where he was stationed while serving in the Navy.
He is survived by
his wife of 65 years, Shirley; four children, sons, Dr. Dennis Thombs (wife,
Colleen) and Patrick Thombs; daughters, Laura Maggio and Brenda Keller
(husband, Rob). He is survived by three grandchildren, Dr. Ryan Thombs (wife,
Erica), Kent Yannayon and Jeffrey Yannayon. He is also survived by one sister,
Stella Parker.
He was preceded in
death by his parents, John and Audrey; two brothers, Danny and Bryan; and two
sisters, Nancy and Ellen.
He began a career in
printing while still in high school at the Wadsworth News Banner. He served in
the Navy for two years and then returned to Wadsworth. He continued working in
printing and retired from the Beacon Journal after 34 years.
He will be
remembered by many for his avid interest in sports. He followed Wadsworth youth
sports throughout his life, attending many high school football games and
wrestling matches. He coached peewee football "Green Dragons" and
later became league director. He loved to golf and traveled to play at many
locations, including the course at Pebble Beach. Another interest and passion
was his garden. He enjoyed planting and tending to his gardens all of his life.
He was a member of the Hosta Society and planted hundreds of varieties of Hosta
in his garden.
He will be deeply
missed by his family. Burial will be in Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.
Service to be held at a future date. Hilliard-Rospert (330-334-1501) Www.HilliardRospert.com
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