RED THOMBS PASSES AWAY. BJ PRINTER.

 

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