The president and C-E-O of the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce, has died after a courageous fight with lung cancer. 71-year-old Fred Ronnow passed away Friday night at Taylorville Memorial Hospital.

Ronnow came to Taylorville in the mid 1990's, selling advertising in a real estate publication. He then joined the former Christian County Journal shopper, and later became the president and C-E-O of the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce, a position which he held for some 10 years.

Ronnow recently was presented with an award for 26 years of soberity from an organization he was a long-time member of, Alcoholics Anonymous. He was also a member and publicity co-chair of the Taylorville Kiwanis Club, and a member of the Ansar Shrine of Springfield.

Ronnow is survived by one daughter and one grandchild. Funeral services are Tuesday in Taylorville.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club has announced that out of respect to the family, Tuesday's regularly scheduled Kiwanis meeting has been cancelled.