WICAL, NOEL (29 Jan. 1910-18 April 1993) copy editor at the Cleveland Press and leader of the Cleveland Newspaper Guild, was born in Wilmington, Ohio, the son of Frank W. and Clara B. Morris Wical. After graduation from Bethany College in 1932, he taught high school English at Tiltonville, Ohio and in 1934 began teaching at Mentor High School. In a gradual shift of interest from education to journalism, Wical briefly took a job with the Painesville Telegraph before joining the CLEVELAND PRESS as a reporter in 1942. Continuing his interest in education, Wical began covering schools for the Press in 1946, and his perceptive articles won him awards from education organizations. He also was active in the Cleveland Newspaper Guild for nearly 20 years. During the Guild's 126-day strike against the PLAIN DEALER and the Press, the issue of union security was debated by Wical, head of the Press Newspaper Guild Unit and Editor LOUIS SELTZER at a televised meeting held at the City Club 6 Feb. 1963. Plain Dealer columnist PHILIP PORTER reported that Wical was more convincing in his arguments for the union than Seltzer was in opposition. After the strike, he retained his position at the Press and continued as a Guild officer. He retired after 37 years as a writer and copy editor.
Wical married Dorothy Morris in 1933, and they had two children, Susan Vanessa Baker of Columbus and son Lee of Kaneohe Hawaii. A resident of Mentor during his years with the Press, Wical was living in Columbus when he died. He was cremated.