Illinois biz editor Landis dies at 66

Tim Landis

Tim Landis, the business editor at The State Journal-Register in Springfield, Illinois, died Tuesday at the age of 66.

Bernard Schoenberg of the State Journal-Register writes, “Landis covered a wide variety of topics, including business, agriculture, economic development and land use.

“‘Tim’s passing leaves a huge hole in the SJ-R’s institutional knowledge, given how much he knew about so many local issues,” said Executive Editor Angie Muhs. ‘But it leaves a far bigger hole in the newsroom’s heart because he was such a positive, wonderful colleague.’

“Landis’ wife of 36 years, Debra, said her husband had no known health problems and exercised — including regular walks with his beloved dog, Chandler — and his unexpected death was peaceful.

“‘He had a smile on his face, and his glasses were still on, and he had been reading a book,’ she said.”

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Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.