Jerry M. Gutlon

Mr. Jerry Martin Gutlon, age 56 of Griffin, passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at Piedmont Healthcare of Atlanta. Mr. Gutlon was born on September 16, 1952 in Washington, D.C. He is preceded in death by his father, Irving I. Gutlon; step-father, David Glazebrook; and sister, Juliette Marshall. Jerry proudly served his country in the Army and Army National Guard. He served as a chemical non-commissioned officer, cannon crewmember, recruiter, and supply sergeant. His military accomplishments include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Expert Badge M-16 Rifle, Army National Guard Badic Recruiter Badge, Army National Guard Senior Recruiter, and Army National Guard Master Recruiter Badge. He was ranked second in chemical school. In 2006, he served as a civilian public relations liaison at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Jerry was also an accomplished journalist. Locally, he was well-known for his work at the Griffin Daily News. He covered local sports, was the assistant sports editor, and also covered Pike County and Lamar County governments. He was dedicated to reporting the whole truth and brought to light unsavory politics. His reporting changed the course of government in Pike County for the sake of its residents. He was voted Best of the Best Newspaper Reporter by the readers of the Griffin Daily News in 2004. Other journalistic accomplishments include the Alfred I. DuPont Award for excellence in journalism, the Sidney Hillman Award, the National Headliner’s Award, the George Polk Award, and the Roy W. Howard Foundation Award. He received a Gubernatorial Citation from then Massachusetts Governor, Edward J. King, for excellence in news reporting. His coverage of Kayla McKean, a six year old girl from Central Florida who had been murdered by her father in 1998, had received national exposure on an episode of Dateline. Most recently, he achieved his lifelong dream of publishing a book. It was Never About the Babe: The Red Sox, Racism, Mismanagement, and the Curse of the Bambino was released this past February. It is going into its third printing and was recently displayed on the Mike and Mike Show on ESPN. Survivors include his wife, Kristie H. Gutlon; son, Joshua Gutlon of Griffin; daughter, Alicia Gutlon of Griffin; mother, Jeanette Glazebrook of Norfolk, Massachusetts; brother and sister-in-law, Jon and Angel Gutlon of Norfolk, Massachusetts; aunt, Virginia Traudt of Hendersonville, North Carolina; niece, Heather Marshall of Boston; nephews, Jon Gutlon of Norfolk, Massachusetts and Willie Gutlon of Phoenix, Arizona. Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Pastor Tommy Powell will officiate. Friends may visit the family following the service. Interment will follow Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton with military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Harvest Temple Church of God, 1427 US-41 Bypass South, Griffin, GA 30224 in memory of Jerry.

Jerry M. Gutlon

September 16, 1952 - July 7, 2009