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William Harrison Heflin, whose wife, Jean, was one of the Almanac's three founders, died March 2 in Mount Vernon, Washington. He was 86.

The Heflins lived in Portola Valley from 1960 to 1971. In 1965, Jean Heflin, Hedy Boissevain and Betty Fry founded the Country Almanac as a community newspaper for residents of Woodside and Portola Valley.

All members of the three women's families played a part in the early days of the fledgling weekly. Mr. Heflin was pressed into service collecting outstanding advertising accounts. The Heflins left Portola Valley in 1971, moving first to Ottawa and then the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Heflin was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1941, the family moved to Redwood City. After graduating from Sequoia High School in 1943, Mr. Heflin joined the Naval Reserve and was sent to the University of Colorado, graduating in 1946. He received an MBA from Stanford School of Business in 1948.

Active in the electronics business in Canada and the United States for years, Mr. Heflin served as president of the Western Electronics Manufacturers Association in 1965. His working life was spent in the telecommunications industry, both in the manufacturing and operating sides, say family members.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jean of Mt. Vernon; daughter Sue Ellen Heflin of Samish Island, Washington; son William James Heflin of Victoria, B.C.; one grandson; and two great-grandsons.

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