Robert J. Burow

Robert J. Burow, 92, former publisher of the Commercial-News and active community member, died Sunday evening, Dec. 25, 2005, at a nursing home in Tucson, Ariz. He traveled between Danville and Tucson for close to 40 years, but stopped coming back the past five years. Burow had a 36-year career with Gannett Co., retiring as publisher of the Commercial-News in 1976. He started in the advertising department and later became business manger. He was appointed general manager of the Commercial-News and vice president of Northwestern Publishing Co. in 1955 and president and publisher in 1969. He interrupted his Commercial-News career to join WDAN Radio in 1944 as sales manager and then served as station manager and general manager until 1955. At that time, the station was owned by Gannett. His passion was golf, and at one point he belonged to four country clubs. He was still playing golf in his 80s. He was involved in many community organizations, including serving as a director at First National Bank and president of the Danville Junior College Foundation. He also served with Lake View Memorial Hospital, Danville United Fund, Illinois State Chamber of Commerce and Danville Chamber of Commerce. He was Danville's First Citizen in 1963 and received awards in journalism. Robert Burow was born Jan. 13, 1914, and grew up on Danville's east side. Athletics were a big part of his life at Danville High School. He married Elizabeth Debenham Burow on May 5, 1935. She died in 1980. Survivors include his second wife, Jo, of Tucson, Ariz.; two sons, Robert J. (Jean) Burow Jr. of Winnetka and Gary Becker and William E. (Sharon) Burow of Danville; grandchildren, Christopher W. Burow of Martinsville, Va., and Libbie Burow Cline of Potomac; great-grandchildren, Brody Cline, Boone Cline, Josh Burow, Zack Burow and Nick Burow.