Hiley H. Ward, 80, journalist, professor

Hiley H. Ward, 80, of Warrington, a journalism professor emeritus at Temple University whose award-winning career included covering urban riots in the 1960s and helping students incorporate issues of faith into their reporting, died of leukemia Thursday at home.

As a religion reporter and editor for the Detroit Free Press, Dr. Ward traveled extensively to cover issues involving faith in the 1960s and 1970s.

He reported on the Vatican Councils in Rome and wrote a 16-part series about the places in the Middle East where Christians believe Jesus Christ lived and died.

But it was Dr. Ward's reporting and writing at home in Detroit that won him a share of journalism's most prestigious award.

Dr. Ward was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that covered the riots in Detroit in 1967. He wrote about the faith community's reaction to the violence, and his extensive contacts in the community helped the newspaper cover the riots more comprehensively.

When he left the newspaper in the early 1970s, Dr. Ward resumed his academic study of religion, something that had its roots in his childhood.

He grew up in the Baptist church in Lafayette, Ind., and he was fascinated by the Bible. He studied Greek and Latin on his own before entering college.

Dr. Ward earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., in 1951. He completed a master's degree in theology from Berkeley Baptist Divinity School in California (now the American Baptist Seminary of the West) in 1953; and a master's of divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago in 1955.

After his career in Detroit, Ward taught at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He earned his doctorate in journalism history and international communications at the school in 1977 and later joined the journalism faculty at Temple University. He was chairman of the department for two years.

Dr. Ward was known for his unpretentious and low-key manner and for encouraging students to publish their work, said Thomas Eveslage, a journalism professor at Temple.

He also helped students craft individual courses of study that incorporated religion and journalism. Every summer, Dr. Ward and his wife, Joan Bastel, a retired newspaper editor, hosted picnics for students at their home.

Dr. Ward authored award-winning books, including Mainstreams of American Media History, which was named one of the best new textbooks of 1997 by the Text and Academic Authors Association. He served as president of the Religion Newswriters Association.

Besides his wife of 32 years, Dr. Ward is survived by daughters Carolee Sommers, Marceline Valenty, Laurel Boures, and Dianne; two brothers; one sister; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

No services are planned. Burial is private.

Memorial donations may be made to the New Britain Baptist Church Food Pantry, Route 202 and Tamenend Avenue, New Britain, Pa. 18901.