History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - People - Bios

 
Ronald F. Geiman

Born:
Died:

August 26, 1951
May 11, 2004
Primary Involvements:

 
Newspaper/ media publisher and contributor

 

 

View a Picture Gallery of Ron.

 
       
 

Ron Geiman was the subject of an interview by the Milwaukee LGBT History Project early in 2003, and was featured in a display first appearing at PrideFest 2003.

Ronald F. Geiman (known to everyone as Ron) was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on August 26, 1951. In 1971, he was drafted into the Army, signed up for an extra year, and was able to pick his training. He chose "Military Journalist" and functioned as one until 1974. It was the Army that taught him a philosophy he's lived by ever since: If you're a true news journalist, you could type the facts of a story into the computer and the computer would write the story.

From 1975 to 1977 he was a Person Friday in the advertising department of a Germany weekly here in Milwaukee. During that timeframe he took a broad spectrum of journalism and communications courses at UW-Milwaukee. He took a job at the Factory bar in 1978, and managed it from 1980 to mid 1983, when he teamed up with publisher Erin Criss as a Wisconsin ad rep for "Escape" and "Gay Milwaukee" (local gay publications).

The idea for In Step Magazine was first conceived in November, 1983. Ron Geiman and David Iraci started brainstorming about a locally owned and operated Gay publication which would fill the niche Escape and Gay Milwaukee had left open when both folded. The first issue of In Step was published on February 9, 1984. Within a year, Ron was sole owner and was the driving force behind In Step for over 10 years.

Giving up ownership of In Step due to health problems, Ron continued to be active with In Step off and on until that publication's failure in November 2003. Ron continued to be active in the community until his death, contributing to efforts of other media and groups, and enjoying friendships with hundreds of people he met over the years.

(Thanks to a special issue of InStep Newspaper for much of the contents of this biography.)

 


1970's


with David Clarenbach


On Stage


co-Grand Marshall, 1994 Pride Parade

Credits: bulk of material from In Step Magazine;
page design and format by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: May 8, 2004.

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