Evening star., 1942-10-17
George B. Longan,; 6,
Kansas City Star
President, Dies
Began Career as 81 Week
Reporter; Daughter Lives
In Arlington
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY, Oct. 17.-George
Baker Longan, 63, who rose from
$4-a-week reporter to become
president and general manager of
the Kansas City Star Co., publisher
of the Kansas City Star and Times,
died here yesterday after a heart
attack. Mr.. Longan was a director
of the Associated Press.
He was one of the top men in the
Star organization in 1925 when the
papers employees pooled resources
and purchased the Star and Times
from the estate of William Rockhill
Nelson. Two years later he became
president of the company.
Out of his prejudice against print
ing news stories about snakes grew
many legends, some of which misin-
terpreted his objections as an un-
realistic effort to deny the existence
of the reptiles by ignoring them.
But this was his attitude: Snakes
got far too much publicity. Certainly
they existed, as well as swindlers and
crooks, but why promote them?
There were far too many more i'm
portant news happenings.
Carried Papers as a Boy.
Mr.. Longan was born in Holden,
Mo-, December II, 1878. Two years
later his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
George B. Longan, moved to Kansas
City, where his father became assist
ant superintendent of city schools.
AS boy in high school he carried
papers. On completing high school
he launched his journalistic career
on the old Kansas City Times, later
transferring to the Star.
Mr.. Longan reached the top the
hard way. From a reporter he be-
came a desk man, city editor, news
editor and then managing editor.
While his great love was his news
paper, he found time for much other
work. His duties as director for the
Associated Press took much time:
he attended meeting in New York
only last week. He was active in
Kansas City charities campaigns
was director of the Kansas City
Art Institute, the Conservatory of
Music and the Missouri Historical
Society.
Raised Purebred Cattle.
AS a youth he spent one summer
on ranches in New Mexico and Ari-
zona-and at his Miles-of- View
farm south of Kansas City he raised
purebred Shorthorns which took
prizes at many stock shows.
He was an aviation enthusiast,
serving as Missouri governor of the
National Aeronautical Association
Under him, the Star was a pioneer
in newspaper-radio hookup. He was
active in the revival of river traf-
fic as vice president of the Missis-
sippi Valley Associations Missouri
River division.
He was married in 1902 to Miss
Goldie Angeline Cole. Besides his
widow, he is survived by two daugh-
tiers, Mrs. Dale Ashby Beronius,
Kansas City, and Mrs. William L.
Higgins, jr., of Arlington, Va.
Mrs. Higgins and her husband
who is lieutenant in the public
relations section of the Navy De-
partment, have been residing in
Arlington since last month.
Funeral services will be conducted
at $3.50 pm. Monday at the Country
Club Christian Church by DR.. George
Hamilton Combs, pastor emeritus.
A. p. Manager Pays Tribute.
In New York, Kent Cooper, gen.
eral manager of the Associated
Press, issued the following statement
on Mr.. Longan's death:
Through an acquaintance of 80
years with George B. Longan, I came
to hold him in the highest respect
and affectionate regard He was q
neWspaperman's newspaperman. He
knew no other activity and the
Kansas City Star was always very
much in his heart. The Associated
Press was fortunate not only in hav.
ing had him as member, but ir
having had him serve with distinc.
ton on the Board of Directors
Whoever undertakes his work will
have heavy responsibility.
personally, a friend and a very
dear friend has gone. I shall mis-.
him greatly"