Griffing, colorful online newspaperman, dead at 61

Richard Gary 'R.G.' Griffing displays his invisible underwear product on Dec. 1, 1998, at his office in San Antonio. Richard Gary 'R.G.' Griffing displays his invisible underwear product on Dec. 1, 1998, at his office in San Antonio. Photo: Express-News File Photo Photo: Express-News File Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Griffing, colorful online newspaperman, dead at 61 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Richard Gary “R.G.” Griffing, known for his contrarian views and the exposés on local politicians he ran in his online newspaper, died Tuesday from diabetes-related complications.

Griffing, 61, was the editor and publisher of the San Antonio Lightning, a provocative, low-tech website in the style of yellow journalism. The site, created in October 2000, features a bizarre combination of advertisements — from tactical firearms training classes to politicians and a competing online news organization — and large, shocking headlines about both local and national issues.

His wife of 27 years, Ruth Griffing, said her husband was admitted to a hospital Sunday and had been sedated. Plans for services are pending.

Before starting the Lightning, Griffing worked for television and radio stations, his wife said. She characterized him as an “aggressive” journalist.

Griffing blurred the line between journalism and politics. In May 2007, he ran unsuccessfully against Phil Hardberger for mayor of San Antonio. He also was known to address — and chastise — the City Council during its “citizens to be heard” portion of meetings, though it's extremely unusual for journalists to either publicly address the council or share opinions. Griffing wasn't one to keep his opinions to himself.

“As long as you had whatever opinion he had, then you were OK,” former councilman and Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff said. “He was certainly not shy about telling you what his opinion was and trying to solicit from you if you agreed.”

Wolff, whose dealings with the Lightning were more frequent when he was on council than on Commissioners Court, said that he was at first taken aback by Griffing.

“It didn't take long to figure out the San Antonio Lightning was nothing like the old San Antonio Light or the current Express-News,” Wolff said. “It was somewhere on the fringe of what I believe the Current to be — kind of extremist in viewpoint. You're OK if you agree and eviscerated if you don't.”

If not a typical journalist, Griffing was indeed colorful. According to news reports, he'd marketed “invisible underwear” and real estate on Mars more than a decade ago.

In 2000, the Hearst Corporation, owner of the Express-News, sued Griffing over his plans to open a competing newspaper using the name “Light,” the Hearst-owned San Antonio newspaper that closed in the early 1990s.

After countersuing for $10 million, Griffing settled the suit and agreed to change the name of his publication to the Lightning.

At the time, Griffing said, “We're trying to be a diverse voice.”

jbaugh@express-news.net