Longtime Nebraska weekly editor/publisher Shirley Brown Bogue dies at 96

Shirley Brown Bogue

Shirley Brown Bogue, who worked in Nebraska weekly newspapers for more than 30 years as a writer, editor and publisher died on June 24 at the age of 96, reports the Oakland Independent in the northeastern part of the state. Shirley and her husband Bob bought the Independent in 1952 and became joint editor-publishers.

"Together they pioneered community journalism, developing and introducing a lively, human interest orientation that increased photo coverage, an expanded editorial page and weekly columns, resulting in numerous awards and honors over the years including the NPA General Excellence awards and AK-SAR-BEN Community Service awards," reports the Independent. The Bogues also published the Madison Star, the West Point Republican, the Lyons Mirror Sun and the Craig News, before retiring in 1983, where Shirley continued to write, publishing several books.