In 2000 by Dave Astor Death did not take a holiday in the syndication world last year. MacNelly only 52. In addition, pioneering King Features Syndicate Op-Ed columnist Carl Rowan passed away in September at the age of 75. Several other people well known in syndication circles also died at relatively young ages.
People die, but sometimes their work lives on.
Tribune Media Absorbs LATS TMS was involved in another huge story when it announced last August that it would absorb the Los Angeles Times Syndicate. Thirty-four people were laid off during the fall, and some features are expected to be dropped sometime this winter. There are now eight major newspaper syndicates left in the country, down from a dozen in 1985. That last strip celebrated its 70th anniversary on 2000. Universal itself also turned 30, and got itself a new president when Robert Duffy was promoted in February.