James W. Mangan, who had 36-year career with The Associated Press, dies at age 87

James W. Mangan, whose 36-year career with The Associated Press included a decade as vice president in charge of membership, has died. He was 87.

Andrew Mangan said his father died of a heart ailment Friday while playing tennis in San Antonio.

James Mangan started with AP in San Francisco in 1952. He went to Dallas as assistant bureau chief in 1963 and was among those who covered President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

Mangan went on to be bureau chief in New Orleans before returning to Dallas in that role. He moved to Frankfurt in 1977 to head AP's operations in Germany, Switzerland and Eastern Europe.

Upon returning to the U.S., he served as a vice president in New York City from 1978 until his retirement on Jan. 1, 1989.