Dallas E. Dolan, who became the heart and soul of the Journal-World and The World Company mechanical operations during a period of 64 years, died Friday morning at Lawrence Memorial Hospital after more than 25 years of combating cardiovascular problems. He was 80.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

He was born Oct. 26, 1927, in Douglas County, the son of Edgar Thomas and Edna Mae Fetty Dolan. He attended Liberty Memorial High School and joined the Journal-World as a pressman in August 1944. He became press superintendent, then production manager and, when he reduced his hours, he continued to be employed in a special consulting capacity.

He won several honors for his mechanical and press mastery including major citations from USA Today, which The World Company prints for a five-state area.

Dolan invented a four-sided newspaper circulation cart and a watering system for offset presses. He was a charter member of the Mid-America Mechanical Conference for more than 30 years, serving on the board for more than 25. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Aerie No. 309.

Long involved in the fast-pitch softball scene, Dolan was regarded as one of the finest catchers in local history. A fierce competitor, he was well-known for his fiery temper.

Dolph C. Simons Jr., editor of the Journal-World and chairman of The World Company, described Dolan as “a special and valuable member of the Journal-World family. : Not only was he extremely knowledgeable about presses and every other area of our production process but he played a significant role in the expansion of our physical plant starting in 1954 when we moved from our former location at 722 Mass. to our current site at 609 N.H.

“Aside from his unbelievable mechanical skills and his unique talent for sensing what might be wrong with a particular piece of equipment and determining ways to correct the problem, there was a facet of Dallas that stands out even more vividly in my mind: his deep and abiding loyalty to the company and its people and his burning desire to do whatever he could to make ours a better, more efficient operation.

“Few are as fortunate as The World Company and the Journal-World to have had an associate so interested in improvement and betterment. He was a hard worker who strived for excellence. His involvement went far beyond mechanical operations – and included great interest in the news and advertising facets. Dallas worked with four generations of the Simons family – W.C. Simons, Dolph Simons Sr., Dolph C. Simons Jr., Dolph C. Simons III and Dan Simons. Nobody could appreciate him more.”

From Ralph Gage, director of special projects for The World Company: “Dallas was an absolute genius. He was a rare person, one I treasured the opportunity to work with. He had an exceptional ability to analyze procedures and problems with mechanical equipment, which made him unique. Almost immediately he could visualize, analyze and make adjustments and corrections that few others could have managed so quickly and so well. He was well-read with a superior intellect and invented items that deserved to be patented. We’ve never had a more loyal, devoted associate.

“I can’t pass up the opportunity to recall what a master he was at making those mountains of superb mashed potatoes for various Journal-World holiday functions, just another indication of the man’s vast range of achievements. He was, truly, a genius.”

Bill Mayer, contributing editor, worked with Dolan more than 55 years.

“There are no words to measure my regret at the loss of one of the finest personal and professional friends anyone could have. Oh, how often we laughed together. If you have to go to war, the indomitable Dallas Dolan would be one of the first persons you’d seek to go with you into the line of fire.”