Abilene ? Vivien Sadowski, who served for 12 years as publisher and editor of The Abilene Reflector-Chronicle before retiring in 1998, died Monday. She was 74.

Sadowski had been undergoing treatment for brain cancer after having a tumor removed in August, said Dave Bergmeier, her successor as editor and publisher. She died at the Harry Hines Memorial Hospice in Wichita.

Sadowski was president of the Kansas AP Publishers and Editors Assn. from 1995 to 1997, the first woman to hold that post. She also served as president of the Kansas Press Women from 1993-95 and was active in the National Federation of Press Women.

“Vivien was a person I admired greatly from the time we met 20 years ago,” said Paul Stevens, an Associated Press regional vice president. “She was one of the first women to become a publisher, and she brought her great people and professional skills to the job.”

Doug Anstaett, the executive director of the Kansas Press Assn., said Sadowski’s election as the group’s president reflected the admiration and respect she was accorded in Kansas journalism.

“Those of us who were honored to serve alongside her, both professionally and through our industry organizations, will miss her leadership and keen insights,” Anstaett said.

Bergmeier said Sadowski “knew there was only one way to make a difference, and that was to become involved.”

Her commitment to promoting tourism led in 1980 to creation of the Reflector-Chronicle’s Vacation Fun section, which earned a state award presented the following year by then-Gov. John Carlin.

Sadowski continued writing a weekly column for the newspaper until December 2002.

A native of the Newton area, she is survived by her husband, Harold; and two daughters, Barbara Blue, of Wichita; and Janie Tomlinson, of Fayetteville, Ark. A son, Joe, died in 1990.

A visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Danner Funeral Home in Abilene, and will continue at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the city’s First United Methodist Church, with a funeral to follow at 11 a.m.