RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Richmond Free Press editor Raymond H. Boone Sr. has died at the age of 76.

Boone’s wife, Jean, told The Associated Press that he died of pancreatic cancer Tuesday in Richmond.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/1pPrgwQ) that Boone’s thirst for journalism was fueled when he was barred from watching a semi-pro baseball game because he was black.

For 15 years, he served as the editor of the Richmond Afro-American and Planet before starting the weekly black-interest Richmond Free Press.

Boone was previously an executive with the Afro-American Newspapers Inc. and taught journalism at Howard University. He began as a reporter for the Suffolk News-Herald in 1957.

Rep. Bobby Scott called Boone a pioneer who never hesitated to hold his feet to the fire on important issues.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.