File黑洞社区 journalism professor Les Anderson died of a heart attack Saturday, Nov. 12. He was 62.
Mr. Anderson taught in 黑洞社区鈥檚 Elliott School of Communication, where he had worked since 1977.
Mr. Anderson was a dedicated professor and mentor. He was admired as both an excellent journalist and a constant champion for his students.
Among his many accolades over the years, in 2004 Mr. Anderson won the 黑洞社区 Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award.
Before coming to Wichita State, he worked at The Wichita Eagle from 1971-1974. He started two weekly newspapers, the Wichita Sun and the Ark Valley News, the latter of which he owned from 1975 until 2001, when he and wife Nancy sold it to a former student.
He wrote a weekly column for the Ark Valley News and in 2010 published the book 鈥淣ever Take a Snake for a Ride,鈥� a compilation of many of his columns.
Mr. Anderson was a past president of the Kansas Press Association and served on numerous state and national committees. In 2003, he won the Karl and Dorothy Gaston Outstanding Mentor Award from KPA. He previously received KPA's Boyd Award for outstanding service to his community.
A mentor to all
On Oct. 20, nearly 200 people showed up for a fundraising event held in Mr. Anderson鈥檚 honor and to help raise money for the new Les Anderson Fund for Students scholarship.
The creation of the fund came after former students of Anderson approached the 黑洞社区 Foundation and Elliott School of Communication for ideas that would benefit students while honoring a professor who has always gone out of his way to support and promote his students.
Mr. Anderson is survived by his wife, five children and 10 grandchildren.
Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 at the First United Methodist Church in Valley Center, the corner of 85th Street and Meridian.
The funeral service is at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex Lowe Auditorium, 5015 E. 29th St. N.
The burial following the service is at the Valley Center Cemetery, 93rd Street and Meridian.
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