Charles Heaton Jr. (October 22, 1917 – February 14, 2008) was an American sports news columnist, journalist, commentator, and reporter.

He was also the father of Michael Heaton, who was a writer and movie critic for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and served for 30 years as the newspaper's "Minister of Culture."

[1][2][3] 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".

After graduation, he worked at John Carroll University as the publicity director and in 1942, he joined The Plain Dealer.

[7] He served in Germany during World War II and was the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal.