Loris C. Troyer

Veteran Portage County journalist, community leader, historian and author Loris C. Troyer, 96, died early Thursday morning, Dec, 9, at Gardens of Western Reserve in Cuyahoga Falls, where he had lived since mid-October. Mr. Troyer retired in 1982, as executive editor of the Record-Courier, the Portage County daily newspaper he joined in 1936 to cover news of Kent State University for $10 a week. After retiring, he began writing a weekly Portage Pathways column about area history. His association with the Record-Courier spanned more than 65 years. He had been in declining health for several years. He broke his hip in a fall on Thanksgiving night and had hip replacement surgery the following morning. After a week's stay at Akron City Hospital, he returned to Gardens of Western Reserve a week ago. Born Oct. 11, 1914, in Walnut Creek, Ohio, he came to Kent State University in 1932, where he became a journalism student. He joined what was then the Kent Courier-Tribune in August 1936, giving up a part-time summer job of selling Singer sewing machines to do so. In 1939, he moved to the paper's Ravenna office to cover local news there. He became Kent editor of the Record-Courier in 1949, and executive editor in 1963. As a young journalist, Mr. Troyer was credited with uncovering the news that the United States government was acquiring large parcels of land for what became the Ravenna Arsenal for arms production during World War II. During his long career, he also was instrumental in coverage of the effects of World War II and post-war prosperity on Portage County residents, the dramatic growth of Kent State University and the tragedy of the campus shootings on May 4, 1970. While his professional career enabled him to be in the presence of seven U.S. Presidents and countless entertainment and sports celebrities, he most enjoyed telling the stories of local newsmakers and everyday citizens. A collection from his hundreds of history columns was published by the Kent State University Press in a 1998 book entitled Portage Pathways. Mr. Troyer was involved for decades in community leadership, including serving 12 years on the Kent City Schools board of education beginning in 1958 and as director of the Portage County Soap Box Derby from 1947 through 1972. Over the years, he served as a director of the Portage County Red Cross, Camp Fire Girls, Boy Scouts, United Way, Kent Citizens for Progress, Portage County Heart Association and the City Bank of Kent. He was president of Kiwanis Club of Kent, Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, Ravenna Jaycees, Kentway, Inc., Kent Historical Society and Twin Lakes Country Club. He was a long-time member of the United Church of Christ of Kent, where he served as chairman of the board of trustees. He was a charter member of the Akron Press Club and the Akron chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He received the John S. Knight Award for lifetime achievement in journalism, the Kent State University Distinguished Service Award and the Kent State School of Journalism Distinguished Alumni Award. He was a member of the Halls of Fame of the All-American Soap Box Derby and the Kent City Schools. In 1939, he married Lucile Gallaway of Kent. She died in 1991. He married Laura Walters of Ravenna, who survives him, in 1992. He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Jesse Troyer; sisters Mellanie Arnold, Marjorie Hummel and Nellie Hecker; brothers Dey Troyer and Tom Troyer, and son-in-law Marvin Canupp. He also is survived by daughter Sandy Canupp of Kent; son Bob of Chicago; grandson Scott Canupp of Broadview Heights, Ohio; granddaughter Teri Peasley of Heath, Ohio, and great-grandchildren Kyle and Kelsey Katz and Abigayle and Alexander Troyer Canupp. Calling hours will be Sunday, Dec. 12, from 1 to 4 p.m.at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home, 624 W. Main Street, Kent, Ohio 44240. Services will be Monday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. at United Church of Christ of Kent, 1400 E. Main Street. Memorials may be made to the Loris Troyer Journalism Scholarship Fund, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5910, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001, or the Kent Historical Society, 234 S. Water Street, Kent, Ohio 44240-3526.