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Adair County lost a staple in community journalism and volunteerism with the passing of Bill Littler Saturday, March 2.

Littler, 68, was the son of newspaper owners W.E. and Joanne Littler and would become a newspaperman himself. He was rarely seen around his community without a camera around his neck or a notebook in hand.

Littler began working for his parents at The Adair News at a young age. He started there as a full-time employee in 1973, learning the ins and outs of keeping a community informed of everything they need to know.

He and his wife, Connie purchased the newspaper in 1991, but it has been in his family since 1937. He worked there until his death.

Littler was strong in his profession, once earning the Iowa Newspaper Association’s highest award, the Master Editor-Publisher Award.

A community servant, Littler had a 35-year run with Adair Fire and Rescue, retiring in 2014. He became an EMT in 1980 and was Ambulance Captain for over three decades.

A public visitation was held noon Friday, March 8 at the Adair Fire Station with funeral services noon Saturday, March 9 at the Adair Fire Station, with Pastor Kyle Fever officiating. A luncheon followed the service.

Adair Chamber of Commerce President Ashley Smith said Littler meant many things to the Adair community.

“Bill was a wonderful supporter of the Adair Chamber and provided exceptional coverage for our events. He played a significant role in our community that won’t be able to be replaced,” Smith said. “Bill will forever be greatly appreciated for all that he did from his years on the fire department to all of his years delivering quality stories to our community. He will sorely be missed.”

Jim Zimmerline has contributed photos to the Adair News for more than 15 years, but he also considered Littler one of his closest friends — one who will be greatly missed.

“He was a great friend and a great mentor, a well-rounded guy who knew his craft. You want to talk about one of those guys who was a pillar in the community, he had been doing [the newspaper full-time] since 1973. He was the guy, and sadly he’s not the guy anymore,” Zimmerline said. “I’m going to miss him because I used to go in and shoot the breeze with him. I’d plop my butt down in his chair for 15 minutes one day and an hour and a half two days later, just talking as a friend. I’m going to miss him a lot.”