CLEVELAND — Cleveland's most famous banner is staying put.
Sherwin Williams is doing an about face on its previously announced decision to temporarily replace the 10-story Nike/LeBron James banner on its corporate headquarters downtown.
"We heard, we listened and we responded," said the company's communications director Mike Conway.
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The corporation intended to replace the banner this summer with one celebrating its 150th anniversary.
But after lots of social media criticism and a petition to keep LBJ's banner, officials decided to keep it in place.
Some Republican delegates told the company they were looking forward to taking pictures with the banner.
An erroneous broadcast report caused a stir by suggesting Republicans were somehow involved with removing the LeBron banner. They were not.
A reliable source tells Channel 3 that Donald Trump himself called Republicans in town planning the convention to express his wish that the banner stay up. That's the only time they've heard from directly from Trump in the convention-planning process.
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"For 150 years, Sherwin-Williams has been proud to call Cleveland our home, and we're committed to doing the right thing for the people of this great city, " said president and CEO John Morikis.
"For the last year, we've been planning to hang a celebratory banner outside our building during the summer months," he added. "But what better way to celebrate our 150th year than with an NBA championship. As a long-time supporter of the Cavs, and the entire community, we want the energy and excitement in this city to continue."
Sherwin-Williams was a sponsor of last week's parade and employs 3,000 people in Northeast Ohio.
The company is donating $150,000 to the LeBron James Family Foundation.
"We are so grateful to the Sherwin-Williams Company for their continued generosity to the Akron and Cleveland communities, and we would like to congratulate them on their 150-year milestone," said Michele Campbell, the foundation's executive director.
"This contribution to our kids will go a long way in helping provide the resources and interventions necessary to keep our students in school and on the path to a college education,' Campbell continued.
