William C. Kreger d. 1981

KREGER

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall
Date: 5/4/2006 at 05:41:44

William C. Kreger, senior assistant managing editor and former national news editor of the Wall Street Journal, is dead at age 56.

Mr. Kreger died at his home in Summit, N.J., Saturday night apparently of a heart attack.

He Kreger joined the newspaper as a copy reader in 1952 after having worked as a reporter for the Dubuque, Iowa Telegraph-Herald from 1948 to 1951.

By 1961, he had become national news editor of the Journal. He acquired the nickname "Mr. Inside" because he was responsible for editing all of the news that appears inside the paper.

He was named senior assistant managing editor in March 1980.

"He taught a generation of Journal reporters and editors through flawless news judgment and his commitment to concise, clear writing. He campaigned against fluff, hype and cheap shots," said Laurence G. O'Donnell, managing editor of the newspaper.

Born in Albia, Iowa, Mr. Kreger was graduated fom Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa in 1948. He received a graduate degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism in 1952.

He leaves his wife, Anita, and two children, Thomas and Laurie.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Central Presbyterian Church in Summit, N.J.

-Boston Globe, August 4, 1981