A former publisher of The Independent in Ashland has died.

Roger F. Coleman of Flatwoods, Ky., died Monday at his home of an apparent heart attack. He was 61.

Before he became publisher of The Independent in 2002, he worked in ad sales at News Tribute, LaSalle, Ill., and then worked at the Tampa Tribune, Tampa, Fla. After moving back to Illinois, he worked at the Kane County Chronicle for 20 years, becoming the publisher.