John Shurr. Photo from Associated Press

John Shurr, a journalist who was a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, died on Sunday. He was 67.

Shurr, who served on the editorial board of The Cherokee Phoenix, the tribe's newspaper, worked for The Associated Press in South Carolina for decades. As chair of the S.C. Press Association’s Freedom of Information Committee, he was an advocate for open government.

“John Shurr was a Cherokee citizen who dedicated his life to advancing the profession of journalism. John served his country with distinction in the military and was a servant to the Cherokee people on the Phoenix editorial board,” Chief Bill John Baker said in a statement. “His work and patriotism will long be remembered. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Shurr, who retired in 2007, was the author of A Public Official's Guide to the S.C. Freedom of Information. He served in the Vietnam War.

Get the Story:
Longtime South Carolina journalist, open government advocate John Shurr dies at 67 (AP 3/2)
AP’s John Shurr, fighter for SC public’s right to know, dies at 67 (The State 3/2)