Colleagues extol county recorder’s reporting career

Though he served as the county’s clerk for about 17 years, Gary L. Granville earned high praise for his work as the Daily Pilot’s county

reporter from his former colleagues Thursday.

Granville, who also worked as an editor at the Orange County Register,

died Thursday of a heart attack. He was 72.

“Gary was one of the best reporters I ever knew. And he was that

because he was a good listener,” said Charles H. Loos, who served as

Granville’s assistant managing editor at the Pilot during the 1970s. “I

edited most of his copy. He covered a lot of the county scandals at the

time.”

Born April 23, 1929, in Hollywood, Granville wore many hats in his

life, starting out in business before deciding to join journalism. It was

then that he earned a bachelor’s degree in communication at Cal State

Fullerton, where he eventually taught as well. After working at the

Fullerton News Tribune, he joined the Pilot, where he covered the county.

“I admired him so much,” said Bob Barker, a former Pilot co-worker. “I

think he was the best reporter I ever worked with. He got stories that

nobody ever got.

“He was an old-fashioned, smart reporter -- fair, objective,” Barker

continued. “I can’t say enough good things about him. I’m not doing him

justice. You can say that about anyone, but in his case it’s very true.”

While at the Pilot, Granville earned every investigative reporter

award possible from the Orange County Press Club, Loos said, adding that

Granville was worthy of at least a Pulitzer Award nomination.

Jerry Clausen, who also worked with Granville at the Pilot, echoed

such praise.

“He was probably one of the best, if not the best, investigative

reporters in the county,” Clausen said. “He was considered the top county

courthouse reporter.”

Steve Mitchell, who served as the Pilot’s Laguna Beach bureau chief

during Granville’s tenure, recalled a time when Granville replaced a

reporter who had drank too much on his Saturday shift.

Granville came in on his day off, made a few rounds of calls and ended

up writing a story. He threw the other reporter’s name at the top of the

story, much to the surprise of the reporter when he awoke the next

morning, Mitchell said.

“That was so typical of him to do that -- not take any credit,” he

said. “He was so humble.”

After his successful career in journalism at the Pilot and the

Register, Granville decided to join the political fray. In 1985, he

earned an appointment to the position of county clerk. He retained the

post with reelections in 1986 and 1990.

Then, in 1994, he was first elected as county recorder after

predecessor Lee Branch left amid allegations of sexual harassment and

mismanagement. Granville then merged the clerk and recorder position in

1995.

During his tenure as county recorder, Granville made the Orange County

recorder’s office the first in the nation to record documents

electronically. He decided not to seek reelection in 2002 so that he

could retire.

Over the years, the Orange resident involved himself in charity work

for more than a dozen different organizations serving children, the

elderly and other causes.

He is survived by wife of 54 years Joanne Nelson Granville, three

daughters and eight grandchildren.

Services will be held at noon Tuesday at the Salvation Army, 10200

Pioneer Road, Tustin.

* James Meier is the assistant city editor. He can be reached at (949)

764-4324 or by e-mail ato7 james.meier@latimes.comf7 .