Edward James “Jim” McLoone, longtime publisher of the Lake Country Reporter and founder of Lake Country Publications, was born Dec. 11, 1928. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. He spent part of his time in Florida assigned to public information, writing news releases and reporting on the base’s sports teams.
Jim was the longtime publisher of the Lake Country Reporter and founder of Lake Country Publications. He spent 48 years in the weekly newspaper business, first in Minnesota and then in Wisconsin. His enterprise ultimately included four weeklies, one semi-weekly, a monthly and two shoppers.
In 1960, his Lake Country Reporter had a circulation of 1,700. When he “semi-retired” in 1990, his network of publications had swelled to a total circulation of more than 100,000. He continued to edit the “50 Plus” news magazine and was a contributor and proofreader for other publications owned by the family. For four years in a row, “50 Plus” captured first place for “Overall Excellence” in the North American Mature Publishers Assn. competition.
Jim was inducted into the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2002. His son, John McLoone, publishes the Pierce County Journal in Prescott and the Stanley Republican.
Jim died Thursday,April 9, 2020, at his home in Hartland. He was 91.
