Van F. McKenzie, 61; editor was influential in sports journalism

Van F. McKenzie, 61, associate managing editor for sports at the Orlando Sentinel and an influential figure in sports journalism, died Friday at his home in Heathrow, Fla., after a three-year battle with cancer.

The son of a well driller and miner from Ohio, McKenzie began his career with the Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner in 1963 and became sports editor at age 17. He went on to lead sports departments of the Sentinel -- twice -- Cocoa Today (now Florida Today), St. Petersburg Times, New York Daily News, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the National sports daily. He was president of Associated Press Sports Editors, the national association of newspaper sports editors, in 1982-83.

In the mid-1970s, when McKenzie was executive sports editor, the small-market St. Petersburg Times sports section was voted best in the country by Associated Press Sports Editors, beating much bigger metropolitan newspapers in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Though the writing was first rate, the illustrations, caricatures and graphics were the mark of a McKenzie production.