FORTE, ORMOND ADOLPHUS (17 Dec. 1887-14 Jan. 1959) earned the honorary title of "dean of Cleveland Negro newspapermen" for his efforts in publishing 3 black weeklies over a span of 4 decades. A native of Barbados, British West Indies, he was educated there at Harrison College. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and French as well as English, he served as commercial representative for several European firms before coming to Cleveland in 1910. Forte married Ida Grant soon after his arrival and took a position with Cleveland businessman DANIEL R. HANNA. With the backing of Hanna, who at the time published 2 Cleveland dailies, Forte began the CLEVELAND ADVOCATE in 1914 and ran it for 10 years. In 1925 he began a new weekly, the CLEVELAND HERALD, which lasted only 2 years before suspension due to a shortage of funds. After a hiatus of several years, he published the Cleveland Eagle from 1935-38 and then revived the Herald, which he maintained until his retirement as a result of failing health in 1954. In all his journalistic endeavors, Forte took a moderate stand on racial issues and tended to support the Republican party. He served as a trustee of the GREATER CLEVELAND HOSPITAL ASSN. and the Normal School of Wilberforce Univ. Dying at FOREST CITY HOSPITAL after a stroke, he was survived by his wife and 5 children: Mrs. Hilda Walker, Mrs. Thelma Pruitt, Mrs. Edna Lockhart, Ormond A., Jr., and Frederick J.
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