PHILADELPHIA, April 14 (UPI) -- Warren E. Preece, who helped "The Encyclopedia Britannica" drastically revamp its design decades ago, has died in Philadelphia at age 85.
The family of the former editor for Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. -- who helped design the 15th edition of the reference work into three distinct sections -- died Wednesday from apparent heart failure, The New York Times said Saturday.
Preece's rendition of the encyclopedia, also known as "Britannica 3," came with a guide section, a quick reference portion and a comprehensive section containing more than 4,000 articles.
In an interview shortly after the edition was published in 1974, Preece said his work was a demanding once-in-a-lifetime situation.
"I don't know anyone who was intimately involved who would knowingly do it again," he said.
Preece is survived by his sons, Mark and Scott; his daughter, Thayer Woodcock; and five grandchildren, the newspaper said.
