Ed Heminger

FINDLAY, Ohio (AP) — Ed Heminger, board chairman for the Findlay Publishing Co. in Ohio and a former member of The Associated Press board of directors, died unexpectedly Wednesday at his home near Findlay, The Courier newspaper said. He was 85.

He was in the third of five generations to work at the local newspaper, rising from a paperboy in the 1940s to the top jobs in the company during a long career that also included positions at several industry associations and foundations.

Heminger followed in the footsteps of his father and brother when he became the company's president in 1983. He was named board chairman in 1989. He was The Courier's publisher from 1965 to 2000 and editor from 1977 to 1989.

His deep involvement in the industry included stints as AP board member from 1984 to 1994, chairman of the Newspaper Association of America Foundation from 1980 to 1988 and trustee of the Ohio Newspaper Association from 1979 to 1988, The Courier said.

Edwin L. Heminger grew up around the business. After joining the Navy, he received a bachelor's degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University in 1952.

That year, he returned to the newspaper as assistant business manager and married his wife, Barbara, who died in 2006.

He is survived by three children, two daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren.

The funeral will be Saturday in Findlay.


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