76-year-old Gib Shanley has passed away. I can not imagine that anyone does not know who Gib is and the impact he has had on Cleveland Television. If you do not, he was one of the 'true television personalities' who helped mold Cleveland Television Broadcasting and Sports in this town for almost half a century.
In 1961, Shanley came on scene and took Cleveland Broadcasting and Sports to the next level!
He broadcast Cleveland Browns and Ohio State Games when he worked for WGAR AM-1420. He continued play-by-play for the Browns through 1984. He proudly wore his 1964 NFL Championship ring. He worked at WEWS, which is where I had the honor and good fortune to meet and work with the Gibber. Though a rookie in the business, I knew then and there this man was the true fabric of what broadcasting was all about. WHY I yearned to be in this business. Stern, opinionated, professional, a bit daunting, yet I wanted to be around him to learn from the master! I was quite lucky to have such mentors as Gib, Dorothy Fuldheim, Nev Chandler, Don Webster, Fred Griffith, the list is really endless!
If you thought his knowledge and opinions ended with sports, think again! In 1979, he was in the national spotlight after burning an Iranian Flag at WEWS during an 11pm newscast. This occurred during the Hostage Crisis in Iran and was in response to the public displaying of the Iranian Flag and the burning of an American Flag by Ayatollah Khomeini supporters in New York. He went onto work at WUAB for a while. After 'official' retirement, he still dabbled in the business doing commentaries, lending his expertise, giving interviews on occasion, and continuing to be the television icon he was and always will be.
Many of today's broadcasters, though sharp, polished, and well-educated in their craft, miss the mark of being a true legend such as the likes of Gib Shanley. I believe those days are gone for good.
Deservedly, Emmy award winning Shanley was inducted into the Ohio Broadcasters' Hall of Fame in 1991.
He had been ill for a while. He finally succumbed to complications from pneumonia. Shanley is survived by 2 sons, 2 daughters, and 6 grandchildren.
For more wonderful stories about and old time pictures of Gib Shanley, click on the Cleveland Seniors website!
To see the Gibber in action, click on the next few 'You Tube' Videos:
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