Times-Shamrock says goodbye to a master salesman, mentor and leader

Apr. 24—Harold F. "Hal" Marion Jr., whose nearly 60-year career with Times-Shamrock Communications began on the back of a newspaper delivery truck and ended in the front office, died Friday. He was 80.

A master salesman and disciple of Dale Carnegie who described every day as "damn near perfect," Hal had a gift for selling people on their own potential. He mentored, coached and counseled generations of Times-Shamrock employees, including some who signed his paychecks.

"Our family was so fortunate to have him," Times-Tribune Publisher Emeritus Edward J. Lynett Jr. said of the man he and brothers George V. Lynett and William R. Lynett, publishers emeritus, referred to as "the Fourth Brother, without stock."

"He got us through a lot of very difficult times. He had a way of working with people and dealing with people that was unique. And he was right most of the time. Of course, he always told me he was right all the time."

Edward and Hal became best friends in their early teens on the "mean streets" of Green Ridge.

"There were two gangs — the Green Ridge Gang and the Dunmore Gang," Edward recalled. "We didn't like each other. We would confront each other occasionally."

The two gangs stared each other down, but never came to blows, Edward said.

"We had swings in our backyard and Hal I would sit on the swings and talk."

Edward relied on Hal's counsel when he became publisher of The Scranton Times at 24 after his father Edward J. Lynett's death in 1966. The man who planned Edward's bachelor party and was a top scorer on the newsroom basketball team was the youngest member of a competitive advertising staff. Hal soon got flak from colleagues about being "too close to the boss."

Hal told Edward they could be friends outside the office, but at work, he was just another employee, Edward remembered. Over the next 25 years, Hal worked his way up to general manager, becoming the Lynett-Haggerty family's most trusted adviser.

"Every important decision that we made during our decades at the newspaper, Hal was an integral part of it," George V. Lynett said of Hal, who joined the company in 1958, delivering bundles of newspapers for $1 an hour. He hoped to follow his father, Harold F. "Spike" Marion, a Linotype operator, with a career in the composing room. Spike advised his son that advertising was his best path to success.

"He was there for every big decision, and a lot of small ones, too," George Lynett said. "And you could always count on him to be honest and forthright when he gave his opinion. He was somebody you could trust and he always had your best interest at heart."

Over 16 years as general manager, Hal led the company through changes that helped Times-Shamrock Newspapers prosper as others struggled to adapt. He broke in a fourth generation of publishers who valued his steady hand and history with the family.

"He was my uncle without equity," said George V. Lynett Jr., former publisher of The Times-Tribune. "When I was in meetings with managers or employee meetings, there were only two people I really cared to listen to — my dad and Hal, because I always felt that when they spoke, I always learned something."

Mary, his wife of 55 years, seven children, 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren were Hal's life, but newspapering was his first love. His advocacy for newspapers made him well-known across the industry. An unwavering optimist, Hal saw obstacles as opportunities and believed local journalism will endure as long as the product is worthy of its subscribers and advertisers.

"He was so generous with his time and with his knowledge," said Roseanne Cheesman, who succeeded Hal as executive director of the Independent Newspaper Group. "I've talked to him over the years every time I had a question. He was always so gracious about helping me out. He was a real prince."

Hal's charitable nature benefited the communities Times-Shamrock serves. He was an original board member for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Scranton and held board positions at St. Michael's School in Falls Twp., The Scranton Times Downtown Federal Credit Union and Friendship House.

Hal's greatest public contributions were to local journalism. Hal's background in nearly every corner of the newspaper business made him an invaluable sounding board for industry leaders, said Tim Williams, former president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

"To use a baseball term, Hal was a great utility player," Williams said of the diehard New York Yankees fan. "You put him in any position and he knew how to do it. He could throw a fastball. He could play second base, outfield, catcher. But better than that, when you needed him, he could hit a home run.

"He prided himself on that. I knew him in probably four or five different positions, and he hit a home run in every one of them."

Hal retired as general manager in 2007, taking the title of chief operating officer, which he held for three years. Honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association in 2010, he shepherded the launch of Times-Shamrock Creative Services before retiring for good in 2017.

Hal's death was a loss to countless people he mentored in life and work, nurturing their spirits while putting them in positions to succeed and trusting them to flourish. He swore by the principles of a Dale Carnegie professional development course he completed early in his career. Hal made it a point to greet everyone with cheer and respect.

Asked how his day was going, Hal invariably replied, "Damn near perfect."

Joe Nealon, circulation director for The Times-Tribune and Citizens' Voice, was working at the printing plant in Scott Twp. when Hal came to say he had plans for Nealon "downtown."

"He had a plan for all of us," Nealon said. "And he took more pride in our accomplishments than maybe even we realized we should. He would give you that little wink. Like, 'You're my guy.' He moved his guys into key positions where he could depend on us and it was an honor to know he had faith in you."

Hal's plans for Nealon involved a move to Pottsville for a key post at the Republican Herald, a Times-Shamrock newspaper.

"He said, 'This is an opportunity, and I'd like you to take it, but not until you talk it over with your wife,'" Nealon remembered. "He said, 'Take the weekend, go down and have a look around and talk it over. I'm not letting you take the job unless she's OK with it.'"

Nealon took the job and never regretted the decision. Treating employees like family was a hallmark of Hal's management style. Nealon remembered Hal's cardinal advice to managers.

"Treat your people right,' he would say. "'Treat them fairly and treat them with respect. They're good people and we need them,'" Nealon said.

Ed Pikulski, director of interactive media at The Times-Tribune, knew Hal as a manager and a father-in-law. He is married to Hal's daughter, Kaylee, and the father of grandson Luke and stepfather to granddaughters Brianne and Courtney. Among the many stories the family shared Friday afternoon was a memory of Hal being asked why he was always so upbeat at work.

"How could I not be happy here?" Hal replied with a wink. "When I'm here, I'm the boss. When I go home, I've got a wife and seven kids. I'm not the boss, I'm just Dad."

Contact the writer: ckelly@timesshamrock.com