Charles "Chuck" Heaton, Jr. (August 22, 1917 – February 14, 2008) was an American sports news columnist, journalist, commentator, and reporter.
He worked for 50 years as a sportswriter for The Cleveland Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. He was also the father of actress Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle. He was also the father of Michael Heaton. Michael is a writer and movie critic for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and has served for 30 years as the newspaper's "Minister of Culture." Michael is also the author of 4 books, and is the screenwriter for Hallmark's movie, "The Christmas Heart."
Among the many awards he received during his career was the Pro Football Writers Association award for distinguished reporting. After his death from pneumonia at the age of 90, the Press Club in Cleveland established the annual Chuck Heaton Award, given to a print, radio, online or television journalist "who best exemplifies the sensitivity and humility that, along with his journalism heart, were traits exhibited by Chuck Heaton during his exemplary career as a sports writer at The Plain Dealer".