William F. Thomas | L.A. Times editor, 89

William F. Thomas, 89, a former editor of the Los Angeles Times who helped the newspaper gain an international reputation and garner 11 Pulitzer Prizes during his 27-year tenure, died of natural causes Sunday at his home in Sherman Oaks, Calif., his son Pete said.

Mr. Thomas, a Michigan native and World War II veteran, led the Times from 1971 to 1989, when the newspaper widened its reach with the opening of domestic and foreign bureaus while launching a Sunday magazine, Book Review, and regional editions.

"He was perhaps the least well-known of any editor of any major newspaper," said Tom Johnson, who previously served as Times publisher and president of CNN. "He never sought the spotlight for himself. His passion was for great writing." - Los Angeles Times