Author Of Surgeon General’s Warning Dies Of Cancer

Edward DeHart, a tobacco industry consultant credited with helping develop the warning label printed on all cigarette packs sold in the United States, has died of lung cancer. He was 71.

DeHart helped craft the first surgeon general’s warning in 1962, when as a public affairs consultant with Hill & Knowlton, he worked with the Tobacco Institute, an industry trade group.

He was a smoker but quit in 1987 when cancer forced his doctors to remove part of his lungs. The cancer recurred and led to his death on Wednesday.

DeHart ran his own public affairs firm for 15 years, specializing in issues like nutrition labeling, copyright protection and funding for women’s sports.