Nov. 25—VALDOSTA — Former Valdosta Daily Times Publisher Keith Blevins died Saturday morning.

Arrangements will be announced by McLane Funeral and Cremation Services.

Blevins came to Valdosta as publisher in December 1994 and served until January 1996. He returned to the role in April 2001. In 2003 he was promoted to vice president/division manager for CNHI, the company that owns the Valdosta Daily Times, but he retained his role as publisher of the VDT. In 2006, he became chief operating officer of CNHI and relocated to the corporate headquarters in Alabama.

Former colleagues remembered Blevins for his kindness and the way he supported them during his time here.

"He was one of the good guys," said Jeff Masters, who became publisher of the Daily Times a few years after Blevins' promotion to COO.

Masters worked under Blevins when the latter was the South Georgia division manager. When Masters was promoted to division manager of North Georgia, he worked across the hall from Blevins at the VDT office. Blevins' promotion to COO made him Masters' boss again in 2006.

"Working beside him was great and working for him was great," Masters said. "He taught me a lot. ... He helped you when you needed help and he challenged you when you needed challenging."

Masters said he didn't stay in close contact, but Blevins continued to live in Valdosta so the two would run into one another in town from time to time.

Blevins started in newspapers in the 1970s in his native West Virginia. That's where he crossed paths with a young cartoonist-turned reporter, Dean Poling.

"I first heard of Keith while working in the twin cities of Bluefield, W.Va.-Va., where he operated an independent newspaper back in the 1980s," said Poling, who recently retired as editor of the Valdosta Daily Times. "He was always proud of the independent spirit of that paper, and it was a fine publication."

Poling was a reporter at the VDT when Blevins arrived in 1994, and he was still working in the newsroom when Blevins returned in 2001.

"He fiercely understood the importance of local news and the independence of the newsroom from the business side of newspapers," Poling said. "He often visited the newsroom to either provide a news tip or ask for the latest updates on a breaking story."

Poling also remembered Blevins' other talent.

"A great singer," he said. "He performed in local shows and with local bands."

Debbie Rennard was Blevins' administrative assistant and recalled him as very caring and kind. She said he wanted to make sure everyone was the best they could be.