ASHLAND — Burl Osborne of Dallas, Texas, formerly of Ashland, and a legendary journalist and devoted husband, father and grandfather, died Wednesday, Aug. 15 at the age of 75.

Born in the coal mining town of Jenkins, Ky., Mr. Osborne blazed a trail through life, never slowed by an experimental kidney transplant in 1966, another in 1994 and a successful bout with cancer several years ago.

He began his well-documented career as a reporter with The Associated Press in West Virginia, breaking hard news and writing with a deft touch on the quirky and the heartwarming, claiming early fame with stories about a dog named Brownie, who was trapped for a month in a mine shaft.

Mr. Osborne rose through the ranks of the AP, leaving as managing editor of its worldwide news operations in New York to join the Dallas Morning News as its executive editor. There, he led the team of editors and reporters that ultimately won a newspaper war with the rival Dallas Times Herald and eventually rose to publisher and an executive and director of the Morning News’ parent Belo Corp., from which he retired in 2001. He returned to the AP as a director, and in 2002, became chairman of the news cooperative’s board.

Mr. Osborne would later become a director and interim CEO of Freedom Communications. He joined the board of J.C. Penney in 2003, and headed its human resources and compensation committee. He also served on the board of Andrews McMell Universal.

During his career, he supported numerous nonprofits and trade associations as a board member, officer or trustee, including the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the National Press Institute, the Texas Daily Newspaper Association, the Newspaper Association of America, the Southern Newspaper Association, the Southwest Transplant Alliance, the National Kidney Foundation and the Committee to Protect Journalists. He also co-chaired the Pulitzer Prize Board. He was a founding member of the Advisory Council at the Center for Vital Longevity at the University of Texas Dallas and was a member of the Board of Visitors at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Despite his numerous professional accomplishments, Mr. Osborne will most be remembered by his friends and family for his fierce loyalty, quick wit, unquestionable honesty, kind heart and generous nature. He also had an enthusiasm for fast cars and fine wine, a passion that fueled his founding of the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition and Food Festival, an annual event that became one of the largest of its kind.

His unending love for his soul mate and muse, Betty, whom he met in 1971 and married in 1974, was as legendary among those who knew them as were his accomplishments in journalism. They traveled the world together, finished each other’s sentences and spoke every day — save for 10 or so when Burl was traveling for business in far-flung places with no phones or cell reception.

Most recently, Burl reveled in doting on his 15-month-old grandson, Harry, whom he loved with all his heart.

He was preceded in death by his father, Oliver; his mother, Juanita, who donated his first kidney; and his youngest brother, Rick, all of Ashland.

He is survived by his brother, David, who donated his second kidney, and his sister-in-law, Joyce, both of Ashland; his wife, Betty, of Dallas and his son, Jonathan, and his wife, Brigette, and their son, Harry, of Austin.

Memorial donations may be sent in Burl Osborne’s name to the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute Development Department, Forbes Tower, Suite 8084, 3600 Forbes Ave. at Meyran Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213; the National Kidney Foundation Finance Department, 30 E. 33rd St., New York, NY 10016; or the Committee to Protect Journalists Development Department, 330 Seventh Ave, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001.

A memorial celebration of Burl’s life and career will be at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24 at the Meyerson Symphony Hall, 2301 Flora, Dallas, TX 75201.

Condolences may be sent to sparkman-hillcrest.com.

Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas is in charge of arrangements.