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Jesup, Georgia 31545

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

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1999. But you can bet Otis wasnt surprised. During his almost half-century as publisher of the Marietta Daily Journal, he helped elect friends like Gov. Barnes, Attorney General Sam Olens and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson. His pen wielded power, and he used it to make things happen or not happen. You didnt have to guess where he stood. Otis stood ready to come out swinging. But thats just one side of my friend who lost his two-year fight with cancer on Sept. 8. Otis Brumbys memorial service was powerful for a powerfully good man. During the hour-long prelude, pianist Randall Atchinson pounded the Steinway grand the way Otis pounded his points. More than 1,000 people packed Mariettas First United Methodist Church to pay their final respects to a giant in Georgia journalism. Otis III, an attorney turned publisher like his father, stood tall. He used poignant humor to paint a picture of his hero, Big

There we werechest-hairs deep in Jekylls Buccaneer Motel poolthree dads, babysitting. As we stood in the June sunshine, Otis said, Id like for you to meet my friend Roy. That was in the mid-1970s at the Georgia Press Association convention. Even then, I knew Otis Brumby Jr. was a powerhouse publisher. What I didnt know was that his friend and attorney Roy Barnes would become our 80th governor in

Otis Brumby had ink in his veins and steel in his spine
My Opinion
MMM
O. The son told stories of a man who could punctuate his words with a sledgehammer, but be gentle enough to find peace pulling weeds in a flower bed or being Pappy to his

11 grandchildren. Otis was accused of being complex, temperamental and harsh. When Dr. Sam Matthews mentioned those characteristics, chuckles rolled through the congregation. Dr. Matthews admitted that he had confronted Otis, saying that the paper might be a little too harsh at times and perhaps it should take a more pastoral tone. Laughter rumbled through the crowd, again. They knew that wasnt the Otis Way in print. But his minister also said Otis had a special way. When you went to see him, Otis greeted you as if you were the most important person in the world. I knew that Otis, too. Nine years ago, when our first grandchild was about to be born, I wanted to make sure we were equipped with a legendary Brumby Rocker. I called Otis. Quickly, he said, Tell me what you want, and I will deliver it personally. I said, No, no. Im happy to come get it. He

DINK NeSMITH
Chairman

met me on Marietta Square and helped load the massive oak rocker. Those kinds of gestures were just as typical as his barefisted editorials. From day one, I knew I would like Otis Brumby. He stood ramrod straight. With hair oiled, combed back in Great Gatsby style, he seemed seriousmaybe too serious behind those horn-rimmed glasses. But Georgia benefited from his seriousness when it came to justice, freedom and open government. Otis was a fighter for what was right and in the peoples best interest. He wanted sunshine piped into every dark corner of government. Sen. Isakson agreed. When the publisher of your hometown paper and your personal friend has passion for open government and youre an elected official, he said, if you dont embrace that concept, too, you wont last very long. I wish Otis Brumby could have lasted longer, much longer. Former Cobb County state Sen. Chuck Clay called Otis an absolutely uncompromising warrior on the behalf of open government and open records. I hope they know what a legal quorum is in heaven or there is going to be trouble, and I bet on Otis. Amen. Georgia would be a better state if we had more newspaper publishers with not just ink in their veins, but also steel in their spines like Otis Brumby Jr. dnesmith@cninewspapers.com