Born and raised in Dayton, Mr. Cheatham graduated from Colonel White High School and served in the Army before returning to WHIO-TV.
In the Miami Valley, he covered Dayton police, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, courts and crime-related news and stories.
Outside the Miami Valley, he covered political conventions and traveled to Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia among other places for news assignments.
His favorite story ever?
It was a trip out West to work on a dude ranch with a group of businessmen and attorneys from Dayton. He even put on chaps and rode a horse to fully immerse himself in the story.
Mr. Cheatham was known for giving people a hard time, in his kind-hearted way.
He retired in April 2009.
Mr. Cheatham was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joan.
His viewing and funeral service is set for Tuesday, Feb. 25.
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