National Obituaries

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fred S. Hoffman, a longtime Associated Press reporter who covered the Defense Department for more than two decades and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for an investigation into the black market in Vietnam has died. Hoffman was 100.

OTTAWA — Gordon Reid, the Canadian businessman who founded discount store chain Giant Tiger, has died at 89. The company says in a statement that Reid died at his home after a brief illness.

ATLANTA (AP) — William “Bill” Shipp, a journalist whose passion for scoops and sometimes-scorching criticism of politicians fueled his coverage of Georgia for more than 50 years, died Saturday at age 89. No cause of death was released.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Porfirio Muñoz Ledo, Mexico’s veteran political chameleon who played a key role in the country's democratic reforms, has died at age 89, his family announced Sunday.

Roy Herron, a longtime Tennessee state lawmaker and former chairperson of the state Democratic Party, died Sunday from injuries sustained in a jet ski accident. He was 69.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Luis Suárez Miramontes, the so-called "Golden Galician" who is the only Spanish man to win soccer's most prestigious individual award, the Ballon d'Or, has died, according to former club Inter Milan. He was 88.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Peter Nero, a Grammy-winning pianist who interpreted pop songs through classical and jazz forms and served as the Philly Pops' conductor for more than three decades, has died. Nero was 89.

Two-time Olympic gold-medalist and former Tennessee star Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51. McCray-Penson was an assistant women's basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school on Friday confirmed her death.

STARKVILLE, Mississippi (AP) — Three-time all-Southeastern Conference linebacker and Super Bowl champion Johnie Cooks has died. He was 64. Cooks played four seasons at Mississippi State, which released notice of his death on Thursday.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Dick Sheridan, who turned around the North Carolina State football program while leading the Wolfpack to six bowl appearances in seven seasons as their coach, died Thursday, the university said. He was 81.