John Wylie

John M Wylie II, 72, of Oologah, Okla., formerly of Kansas City, died October 4, 2025, at his home on Lake Oologah.

A decorated and accomplished journalist and publisher who grew up in Kansas City, he joined The Star in 1974 as an intern. The following year, Wylie was named the newspaper’s first full-time energy and environment writer in 1975. He wrote a series on pesticide misuse that led to a federal ban on one chemical and new restrictions on aerial pesticide applications, and he was part of the team whose coverage of the Hyatt Regency skywalk disaster won a Pulitzer Prize in 1982. He ended his career at the Star as Southland bureau chief.

In 1984, he and his wife purchased the Oologah Lake Leader, a weekly newspaper in Oklahoma, which they published until 2017. His many accolades include induction into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame and three International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors Golden Dozen awards.

In addition to his wife, Faith, he is survived by his son, James, and many more family and friends.