Nevada writer Myrick Land dies at age 76

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 9:31 a.m.

Land died Wednesday night at Washoe Medical Center. He was 76.

Land wrote or collaborated on a dozen books, several with his wife, Barbara, a former New York Times and Miami Herald reporter. He also wrote hundreds of articles for national magazines in the 1950s, '60s and 70s.

At the time of his death, the couple was working on another book, tentatively titled, "Interrupted Lives," about his illness and its effects on the couple and their family.

Land was born Feb. 2, 1922, in Louisiana. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, then graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1945. He received a master's degree from Columbia University in 1946.

During the 1960s and early '70s, he was senior editor and assistant managing editor of Look Magazine in New York.

Land came to Reno in 1976 as an assistant journalism professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.

"Mike Land was an extraordinary editor and human being," said Warren Lerude, journalism professor and former publisher of the Nevada State Journal.

The Lands left Nevada in 1979 in protest over educational funding cuts by then Gov. Robert List, but came back in 1982.

He taught at UNR's Donald Reynolds School of Journalism until his retirement in 1993. Even then, he continued to teach at least one course per semester.

"He was virtually a teacher to any of the writers he edited," Lerude said. "He edited with surgical skill. He was deeply appreciated by anyone fortunate enough to work with or know him."

The Lands were named to the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame in 1996.

Land is survived by his wife, Barbara, of Reno; son Robert of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and daughter Jacquelyn Brewer of Champaign, Ill.

A memorial service was scheduled for 10 a.m. April 3 at UNR's Reynolds School of Journalism.