Eddy Landreth, a longtime sportswriter in Atlantic Coast Conference circles and the former sports editor of The Chapel Hill News, died Wednesday at UNC Hospitals. He was 54.

Landreth was born Nov. 25, 1957, in Greensboro, his son Jordan said. A UNC graduate, he covered ACC sports in general, and Carolina in particular, for the Durham Herald-Sun, Winston-Salem Journal and Charlotte Observer before taking the position of sports editor of The Chapel Hill News.

Afterward he wrote on a freelance basis for publications including the New York Times and The Sporting News, and for websites including GoHeels.com, where he was editor in chief, and TarHeelIllustrated.com, where he was senior football and basketball analyst.

In 2002 he edited “Golden Glory,” the ACC’s official 50th anniversary book, written by Orange County Commissioner Barry Jacobs, and most recently worked with Jacobs on the upcoming “Fan’s Guide to Carolina Basketball” e-book.

“Eddy was an enthusiast,” Jacobs said. “He was an enthusiast for life, an enthusiast for his family, an enthusiast for Democratic politics, and an enthusiast for Carolina... He grew up with ACC sports and especially Carolina sports. That was close to his heart, and he always wanted to do the best job he could in communicating that.”

Landreth was at UNC Hospitals for surgery to repair an intestinal obstruction, Jordan Landreth said, and developed post-operative sepsis, or blood infection.

Survivors include his wife Jane; daughter Madison, 24; and Jordan, 21.

A funeral service was held Nov. 10 at Community Baptist Church in Greensboro. A memorial service will be held at a later date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to the charity of choice.

“I was lucky enough to tag along with him to a lot of games and watch him work,” said Jordan, who works in the afterschool program at a YMCA in Wilmington. “That’s where my career path is headed too. I have a passion for it, just like he did, and I was fortunate to learn from one of the best. He was my go-to guy.”