McKeown, Retired Publisher, Dead at 74

By:

James Greer ""Jim"" McKeown Sr., retired publisher of the Chester News & Reporter, was being remembered this week as a fair and honest man who was dedicated to his family and the newspaper business.

McKeown died Monday at his home from an undisclosed illness. He was 74.

""He knew the role of the business side of the newspaper in providing the resources to cover the news, but he was known to pick up a camera when need be,"" said Bill Rogers, executive director of the South Carolina Press Association. ""He and his family have been an integral part of the newspaper industry in South Carolina for many years. He will be missed.""

McKeown spent 43 years in the newspaper business. He worked the business side while his brother L. Don McKeown was the longtime editor of the Chester paper.

Jim McKeown was an advertising manager with the Chester News before it merged with the Chester Reporter in 1971. He was general manager of the combined paper before being named publisher.

""He was a fine, honest person and treated everyone fairly,"" said Fran Dodds, an advertising sales representative at the Chester paper, who worked with McKeown since 1971. ""He was dedicated to the newspaper business.""

McKeown is survived by his wife, Irene; three sons, James G. ""Jim"" McKeown Jr. of Kershaw, Joseph Frazer and Jason Lee Yarborough, both of Chester; his daughter, Ruth M. White of Newberry; three brothers, Harold A. ""Mac"" McKeown of Pendleton, William Ross ""Bill"" McKeown of Charlotte and Don McKeown of Chester; his sister, Betty Jean McKeown of Chester; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery.