President of Blade's parent firm retires

10/1/2007

David Huey has retired as president of Block Communications Inc. after 22 years with the firm.

His retirement took effect yesterday and was announced by Allan Block, chairman of Block Communications, parent company of The Blade.

Mr. Huey began his duties as president on Jan. 1, 2002.

"At the 100th anniversary of BCI, I remarked that Dave Huey was the best hire in my time," Mr. Block said in a memorandum to employees. "He has guided the cable, newspaper, and broadcast divisions of BCI with wisdom and inspiration for the past five years. He will be missed, but we wish him the very best in his retirement."

Gary Blair, who has been chief financial officer for Block Communications, is now president and reports to Mr. Block. Jodi Miehls, who has been treasurer, is chief financial officer, and Sara LaBudda, who has been controller, is the treasurer.

Mr. Huey was named executive vice president of Buckeye CableSystem in 1985. He was named president and general manager of Buckeye in 1990.

During Mr. Huey's time as president, Buckeye completed a $180 million rebuilding of its system. The use of hybrid fiber-optic coaxial cable allowed Buckeye to expand into advanced video services, high-speed Internet, and residential and commercial telephone service.

Mr. Huey, a certified public accountant, formerly was vice president of administration at Nicholson Industries Corp., where he was hired as controller in 1972.

He is vice chairman of the University of Toledo board of trustees and was a trustee of the former Medical College of Ohio, which is now the UT medical school.

He is a past president of the UT Alumni Association and a past treasurer of the UT Foundation.

He helped raise funds for the UT Alumni Center, the United Way of Greater Toledo, and the Children's Miracle Network.

Mr. Huey is vice president of the board of the Toledo Mud Hens, for which he has been a director for 16 years.

He is a former member of the Lucas County Plan Commission and a former director of the Toledo Area Sanitary District.

A native of Ashtabula, Ohio, Mr. Huey came to Toledo in 1965 when he was recruited as a quarterback for the UT football team.

He was student body president his last year at UT.

Mr. Huey received a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Toledo and started his career with the accounting firm now known as Ernst & Young.