Former Syracuse 'Herald' Editor William Cotter Dies

By: William D. Cotter, former editor of the Syracuse Herald-Journal and Syracuse Herald American, has died.

Cotter died Saturday at Crouse Hospital. He was 86.

Cotter worked for Newhouse Newspapers in the New York metropolitan area starting in 1947 before becoming city editor of the Herald-Journal/Herald American in 1958. He was named editor of the newspaper in 1966 and retired from the paper in 1983.

Cotter chaired the Onondaga County Energy Committee from 1977 to 1983. The committee was created by the Onondaga County legislature and the city of Syracuse to act as a clearinghouse for all energy matters in the region.

In March 1983, former Gov. Mario Cuomo nominated Cotter to be commissioner of the State Energy Office and chairman of the Energy Research and Development Authority. Cotter also was confirmed that year as a trustee of the board of directors of the New York State Power Authority.

In June 1992, Cuomo appointed Cotter commissioner to the New York State Public Service Commission, where he served until his retirement in 1996.

Cotter served as president of the New York State Society of Newspaper Editors in 1980 and also was vice president of the New York State Associated Press Association.