İlhan Çevik: A legend passes away

For some time I could not move. Decades of memories passed in front of my eyes. I met İlhan Çevik for the first time on an autumn day in 1977, the day when I joined the Daily News. Everyone was scared at the time of the boss İlhan Çevik, but somehow, from my first day on I managed to develop a special relationship with him. But, it was when I left the paper in 1985 to do my military service in northern Cyprus that he became all of a sudden very much like a half father to me. I was to benefit from a just legislated law and finish my military service in eight weeks; however, when I went to Cyprus I discovered that the law did not cover me and I was expected to serve for two full years in the military. I had left in Ankara my wife, Aydan, and 6-month-old daughter, Cansu. I was on the island and it was impossible to leave without completing the military service. My family in Ankara was without money, I, on the island, was without money.

I called the paper and informed colleagues there that I will not be able to return as scheduled within two months and explained the situation. I was in a totally desperate situation, though there was a consolation: At least my father-in-law would look after my wife and daughter.

Few days later, at the gates of the garrison, there was a young lady. She was Öznur Çevik. She was sent by İlhan Çevik. She presented me an envelope saying "This is from my father. He said you should not worry about Aydan and Cansu. We will take care of them."

There was some money and a letter in the envelope. The letter was assuring me that I, as well as my family back in Ankara, would receive some money every month and my wife and daughter will be provided with plane tickets to visit me when commanders allowed. More important than that, I was assured that I would still have my job at the paper upon my return.

Indeed, I received similar envelopes throughout my military service and when once I was posted to Ankara for a four-week rehabilitation tour I was presented with a thicker envelope, which besides some cash, included a voucher and a bus ticket for a short holiday on the Antalya beach with my wife and daughter.

On my return to Ankara my desk was ready for me with a welcome note from İlhan Çevik.

İlhan Çevik was a monumental man for me and many others who appreciated his success in founding the Daily News on March 15, 1961, and sustaining its publication uninterrupted for so long despite all the odds. Often he was talking about the difficulties of the first three months of the paper and the modest party he threw when three months in publication was completed. Why? Because so far all previous English-language newspaper attempts had failed and none managed to survive three months.

For almost 30 years I served with İlhan Çevik, until majority shares of the paper were sold to the Doğan group and the Çevik family left the paper while I stayed. During those 30 years naturally we had good and bad days but I never, ever lost my respect for İlhan Çevik who anyhow was a master of gentlemanly behavior, though a perfectionist regarding meeting the deadlines.

"Irrespective how good a paper you produce, if the paper cannot reach the reader it is just a waste of time and money! The first target is to reach the reader. The second is to produce a good paper. If you can produce a good paper and reach the reader at the same time, than you are a good newspaper administrator," he was saying. His words have always been my guidelines in long years when I was serving as an executive at the Daily News.

İlhan Bey, you shall always live in our hearts and minds. My condolences to Öznur, İlnur, the entire Çevik family and the friends of İlhan Çevik. May Allah rest him in peace.

Note: İlhan Çevik will be laid to rest in Ankara today after completion of religious rites at the Kocatepe Mosque following the noon prayers