By: E&P Staff Ron Koziol, the longtime Chicago Tribune police reporter who helped found Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), has died at age 74, the Tribune reported Tuesday.
Koziol was a leader among the 38 reporters who traveled to Phoenix in 1976 to continue the investigations into organized crime of another IRE founding member, Don Bolles, when the Arizona Republic reporter was murdered by a car bombing.
Koziol's 32-year career at the Chicago Tribune included reporting on some of the nation's most sensational cases, including the serial murders of John Wayne Gacy and the kidnapping of Patty Hearst.
"Kozy was among the best of a legendary crew of wily, fierce competitors who were working the streets as police beat reporters in those days," retired Tribune labor writer Jim Strong said of his colleague in the obituary written by William Mullen. "We had four daily papers pumping out four or five editions and replates every night, and editors were always looking for new leads or surprises for every new edition."
Koziol died of congestive heart failure June 13 in his Palos Heights, Ill. home.
He began newspaper career in 1960 after a stint with radio. He was hired by the Tribune Co. the following year.
Koziol is survived by his wife, Barbara; three daughters, Karen Back, Donna Salazar and Kimberly Torri; a son, Steven; a brother, Edward; and eight grandchildren.
The Tribune said visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home, 7020 W. 127th St., Palos Heights. Mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Incarnation Catholic Church, 5757 W. 127th St., Palos Heights.
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