Dallas News security officer passes away
Dallas TX Jan 26 2021
Every day around 4 p.m., Gregory Alston would roam the halls of The Dallas Morning News building in a ball cap and dapper black frames.
Alston, known by his colleagues as “Mr. G.,” would offer folks a warm greeting and comforting smile as he walked through the newsroom and then to other levels of The News’ downtown offices.
Alston, who worked as a security officer for The News for the last five years, died in early January at age 66.
“Gregory’s passing was a heartbreaking loss for all who knew him,” said Michael O’Hara, senior vice president and chief information officer. “He would always greet you with a friendly smile and ask how you are doing. Everyone enjoyed his humble and caring demeanor. He was one of the bright spots in everyone’s day. He will be deeply missed.”
Before moving to Dallas, Alston, from Paterson, N.J., drove limousines. Always up for a chat and yet keenly aware of the newspaper’s print deadlines, Alston was a protector of the newsroom and a friend to many.
“He’d ask if you were doing OK. Every time,” staff writer Dom DiFurio said. “As a journalist, sometimes the days are overwhelmingly stressful, and you could go a long stretch of work days with nobody checking in on you like that.”
“He was really like a dad to me,” Holmes said. “Not once had I ever seen him not smile. His energy was infectious. He lived his life with purpose, and he will be missed.”
For staffers who found themselves working after dark, Alston would insist on walking them to their cars to ensure they were safe.
“He will be dearly missed and remembered as a kind soul,” said Ray Sustaita, manager of corporate security for The News. “Mr. G. always had a smile on his face — a gentleman thoughtful and kind to others, proud to be part of the DMN family.”
Irwin Thompson, deputy director of visual journalism, recalled Alston as a news junkie who took pride in working for a newspaper, “always ready to work” in his uniform — a hat and a black jacket he wore regardless of the weather.
“Mr. G. enjoyed his job and co-workers at The Dallas Morning News and would start his shift walking through the newsroom waving and checking on everyone,” Thompson said. “He was a dear friend to us, and his warm, contagious smile and professionalism will be missed.”
According to an obituary on the website of Distinctive Life funeral home, Alston is survived by four sons, Daniel Alston, Jecori Howie, Jamal Jackson and Kareem Jackson, and 12 grandchildren.
Dallas News
