J Jeffrey Louis

John Jeffrey Louis Jr., 69, founder and chairman from 1968 to 1981 of Combined Communication Corp., served as U.S. amabassador to England from 1981 to 1983. He was a philanthropist and the great-grandson of the founder of the S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. (Johnson Wax). Mr. Louis was a prominent supporter of the Republican Party, serving as chairman of Illinois Volunteers for (Barry) Goldwater in 1964. Combined Communication Corp,, which started with a group of radio and television stations in Arizona that he inherited from his father, eventually included seven TV and 13 radio stations. He merged it with Gannett Co., owner of the largest newspaper chain in the U.S. A native of Evanston, Mr. Louis graduated from the Deerfield Academy and served in World War II as a pilot with the U.S. Army. He graduated from Williams College and earned a master's degree from Dartmouth University in 1949. He worked as an account executive with the Chicago advertising firm of Needham, Louis and Brorby Inc. from 1952 to 1958 and then as director of international marketing for S.C. Johnson & Son. Mr. Louis was part of the ownership of the Chicago White Sox and later a vice president of the Milwaukee Braves. He was also an owner and director of the team after it moved to Atlanta. Among the boards on which he served were: S.C. Johnson & Son, Butler International, Ralston Purina Co., Gannett, Baxter International Inc. and the First National Bank of Winnetka. He also was a trustee of Northwestern University, past chairman of the board of Evanston Hospital and a member of the boards of North Shore Country Day School, Deerfield Academy, Foxcrofft School, Williams College and the Shedd Aquarium. Survivors include his wife, Josephine; two daughters, Kimberly Stewart and Tracy Merrill; a son, John III "Jeff"; and six grandchildren.