MITCHELLVILLE, Md., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- H. Donald Wilson, principal creator of the LexisNexis database service and its electronic research unit, has died at his home in Mitchellville, Md., at 81.
Wilson died Nov. 12 of a heart attack while sitting in front of his computer, the Washington Post reported Friday.
A native of New Rochelle, N.Y., Wilson served from 1969 to 1973 as the first president of Mead Data Central, which developed LexisNexis, now the world's largest online electronic library of legal opinions, public records, news and business information. "He was essentially a practical visionary," said Paul G. Zurkowski, former president of the Information Industry Association. "At the time, the technologies were just emerging and people were focusing on the technology, but Don focused on their application to publishing."
Survivors include his wife, three children and a brother.
