Glenn Vaughn Jr.

Glenn Vaughn Jr, who grew up plowing sunbaked fields on a Depression era Farm and rose to become a legendary figure in Georgia journalism died August 29th at his home in Greenville, S.C. at age 89 after a lengthy battle with health problems resulting from an accidental neck injury.

His notable achievements in an unusually diverse career included 15 years on the Board of Directors of Aflac, the giant Columbus based insurance company, which followed his 1990 retirement as charirman of the Ledger-Enquirer newspapers.

“The entire Aflac family is saddened by the passing of former director Glenn Vaughn, whose distinguished career as a journalist, entrepreneur and businessman was overshadowed only by his compassion as a person,” said Aflac chairman and chief executive officer Dan Amos. “Glenn’s wise and caring counsel during his 15 years service on the Board of Directors was essential not only to Aflac, but to me and the Amos family on a personal level. He was a trusted confidant and great friend during a time when Aflac’s assets grew by more than 700 percent, playing a significant role in solidifying the company as an international industry leader. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his beloved wife, Nancy; to his family and large circle of friends. He will be sorely missed.”

Glenn was born May 19, 1929 on a Newton County farm, the eldest of 10 children. His four decades in Georgia journalism began in 1948, when after graduation from high school in Covington and two years in the Marine Corps, he enrolled in the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia where he became editor of The Red and Black, the nationally acclaimed student newspaper. It was there that he met a beautiful and spirited coed from Ellijay in the North Georgia mountains. Nancy Jean Weeks was his love at first sight and became his helpmate and soulmate for 66 years.

After UGA his long journey to the top ranks of Georgia newspapering began in 1952 as a reporter for the Albany Herald. Between stints on the Columbus Ledger beginning in 1950’s, he moved across the Chattahoochee River into Alabama where he served as editor and publisher of the Phenix Cititzen for a year. He then worked as a reporter and copy editor for the Atlanta Journal for two years before returning to Columbus and the Ledger, where he eventually became managing editor.

In 1965, he made the gutsy decision to join with Athens businessman Claude Williams of Athens and Charles A. "Chuck" McClure of Columbus to start a rival newspaper to compete with the long established and well-heeled Banner-Herald. Defying odds in his role as founding publisher and editor, he soon made the Athens Daily News into an award winning newspaper covering northeast Georgia. At the Daily News he was noted for finding and developing outstanding young journalists, among them Lewis Grizzard. He was the first editor to recognize and exploit the genius of the celebrated columnist and humorist.

After the profitable sale of the Daily News in 1969 Glenn again returned to Columbus as directing editor of the Enquirer, the largest of the Columbus papers. His thoughtful and well-written editorial encouraged change and progress in his adopted home community. Under his guidance the newspaper played a leading role in the tedious process of Muscogee County and Columbus joining together to become Georgia’s first consolidated city-county government.

From the editorial chair at the Enquirer he moved into the business department as general manager of The Ledger-Enquirer Company. When the legendary Col. Maynard Ashworth retired in 1980 he chose Glenn to take his place, making him the first publisher in the long history of the newspapers who was not a member of the ownership family.

“Glenn understood both the news-editorial side and the business side of newspapers, and that is a very rare combination in journalists,” said Millard Grimes, A UGA classmate who like Glenn became the top editor in Columbus before starting his own newspaper company.

“Glenn had the unique gift of finding and developing,” said Richard Hyatt, columnist for the Columbus papers. Hyatt’s relationship with Glenn is typical. He put the welfare of employees first, an unlike many executives, was quick to help them to better jobs, even if it meant losing them to larger newspapers. He was repaid in appreciation and loyalty not always found in the business. “I’m one of Glenn Vaughn’s Boys,” said Hyatt. “And I’m not alone.” That sentiment extended equally to the other gender. In addition to being a caring boss, Glenn was a sensitive Southern Gentleman and one of the first editors to recognize and correct newsroom inequalities.

“He wasn’t a garden variety editor,” said Jim Minter, another friend dating back to journalism school in the 1950’s. “In addition to being a fine writer he had a great imagination and was not afraid of new ideas. He knew his community. He knew what to put into a newspaper and what not to put in. When I was editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution I often called on him for advice and counsel. He just plain had good common sense.” When he retired from the Ledger-Enquirer in 1990 as chairman of the board Glenn had earned the distinction of being the only person in the long history of the Columbus newspapers to fill all the chairs, both in the newsroom and in administration.

As so many have observed, now and throughout the years, Glenn Vaughn was one of a kind. “I know this,” said Jim Minter. If more editors and publishers had run their newspapers like he ran his, newspapers would have remained what they once were a lot longer than they did.”

His long list of community activities included president of United Way and board service for the Columbus Museum, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, The Boys and Girls Clubs Urban League, YMCA, March of Dimes and Boy Scouts of America. Vaughn also served on the Board of Advisers for Chattahoochee Valley Community College and Columbus Area Vocational School. He served on the Civilian Military Council and was a long standing member of Columbus Rotary Club. He was a member of the Columbus Country Club, the Big Eddy Club, the River Club, and the Ft. Benning Officers Club. He was named to the Board of Visitors for the University of Georgia and was a trustee of the University Foundation. In 2015 Vaughn was inducted into the Grady Fellowship by the Grady Board of Trust of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism and Mass Communication in recognition of outstanding achievements.

Vaughn has been a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church for more than 50 years and a member of the Henry W. Shaw Sunday School Class.

He was preceded in death by his youngest son, Billy (William Glenn), and award-winning reporter and editor, as well as mother and father, Glenn and Sally Vaughn and a brother Dan Vaughn of Newton County.

In addition to his wife, Nancy, he is survived by daughters, Valorie Vaughn Riley of Greenville, S.C., Penny "Penelope" Vaughn Byrd, Zirconia, N.C., son, Robert Weeks Vaughn (Janet) of Marietta, and daughter in law, Leonora Vaughn and son Tyler of Beaver Creek, Ohio. He is survived by four grandsons, Lelan Clunton Byrd, Jr. (Ashleigh); Clayton Vaughn Byrd, (Sarah) of Nashville, TN. Jacob Lewis Riley, IV, of Chicago, IL. And Charlie Frank Riley of Tampa, FL.; two granddaughters, Jessica Oliver Riley (Lance) Cumming, and Sarah Gwynne Thierze, (Mattheiu) of Lillie, France. He is survived with five great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Vaughn leaves behind five sisters: Margaret Ozburn, Mansfield, Shirley Ann Watson, Social Circle, Berthalene Payne, Covington, Sally Jeanette Knapp (Don), Watkinsville, and Barbara Lott (Calvin) Clover, S.C.; three brothers, Jack Vaughn (Pat), Oxford, Claude "Tip" Vaughn (Sandra), Social Circle and Charles Vaught (Joanie), Concord, N.C. and a sister in law, Ann Vaughn, Social Circle.

Funeral services will be held at St. Luke United Methodist Church, Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at 2:30pm, with Reverend Dr. Cynthia Garrard officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service in Stockwell Hall of St. Luke United Methodist Church from 1:30 p.m. till service time at 2:30 p.m. Private interment will follow at Parkhill Cemetery.